New Britain herald., 1915-07-06

Informally GlVel U. }. ln Dis
 patch from Ambassador Gerard NO REPLY FROM WASHINGTON Teutons Eager to Learn What Pro-
 posals Would be Accepted by Amer
 ica as Basis for Negotiations to
 Settle Issue Between Countries.
 Washington, July 6. Secretary Lansing stated today that a dispatch had been received from Ambassador Gerard giving informally the views of the German government on submarine warfare but this government has not replied.
 While declining to discuss the con- tents of the despatch, MT. Lansing let it be known that the proposals con- tained in it were similar to those which have already been discussed in Berlin press despatches indicating a desire to clarify the situation before making formal answer.
 No Negotiations Entered
 MT. Lansing stated that there had been no exchange of news as yet and that no negotiations had been entered into by the American government MT. Gerard,s despatch has been transmit ted to1sMr. Wilson where the decision rests as to the character of instruction to be given the American mbassador in answering of Berlin, officials.
 The seffort sof the German govern ment toslsarn $ nfornnally what pro- posals would sbe accepted to the Unit ed States government, so that when embodied. finally in the German reply they might be acceptable as a basis for negotiation. created the distinct inn pressions in official quarters. that the dispute between the two governments eventually would be amica bly, resolved.
 GarbIed In Transmission.
 The message from MT. Gerard was somewhat garbled in transmission. It gave no indication as to the time when the formal reply would be ready.
 What Herr Von Jagow, the German foreign minister suggested in his con- ference with Ambassador Gerard, as a means of meeting the American point of view on submarine warfare was not revealed at the state department. It is known, however, that the aim Of the German governm ent, is to insure. the safety of Americans travelling on passenger ships and att he same time maintain the effectiveness of the stib-
 
 fly enga ged in contraband traffic The United States has claimed the right for it's citizens to travel in both pas senger and cargo ships holding that Americans who are members of the crews of the latter type of vessel, should be removed to a place of safe ty before destruction. Germany, it is understood, has proposed joint sys- tenn of inspection. through which 1t shall be established to the satisfac- ton of German consuls in the United States that belligerent. ships sailing from American ports are primarily engaged in passenger traffic.
 Question Regarding Contraband.
 Details are lacking as to whether Germany will consent to the carriage of any contraband on such vessels or whether guaranty shall be given that the amount of contraband transport ed is of negligible character. x As for the treatment of cargo ships officials are not clear how the Ameri- can joint of view as expressed in it's recent notes can be satisfied unless German submarines before attacking undertake to transfer the crew to l place of safety in accordance with the naval prize codes of all nations. New difficulties have arisen which now complicate the situation. These are the cases of the British liners Ar menian and Anglo Californian, which cargo ships by aking repeated eff forts to escape, justified attacks by the German submarines.
 Ships Flying American Flags.
 Comparatively no attention is be- ing given in the informal discussions which have arisen to the case of ships flying American flags, as complete immunity from attack has, in effect, been guaranteed such ships by Ger many's most recent note. Officials here are gratified that no cases Of mistaken attack have occurred in sew erai weeks.
 While no definite assurance has been given officials here believe that further attacks without warning will not be made against any vessels. whether of neutral or belligerent character, at least until a means of insuring the safety of Americans on the high seas is agreed upon in the present negotiations
 The fact that some cargo ships 17, ,I,~<~ to escape is being taken into account by officials in connection with this subject.
 RAPHAEL PAYS s2,ooo.