The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-18
AWAIT GERMANV'S DECISION,
FAVORABLE SETTLEMENT OF
DIFFERENCES WITH UNITED
STATES DEPEND ON
HER ATTITUDE.
Washington WithhOIds Action to Sever
Relations Pending Ambassador
BcrnstOrff's Communication With
Homo POwers-TensiOn in Capital
Seems LcsScncd.

Washington, Sept. 14.-Prospects
for favorable adjustment Of the con-
troversies between the United States
and Germany depend entirely on the
attitude which the Berlin foreign Of
flee will take toward the recommen-
datiOns made today by Count Won
BenrstOrff, the German ambassador,
as a result of his conference yester-
day with Secretary Lansing.
Details Of the conference became
known today, throwing light on the
critical point that has been reached
| In the relations between the two coun-
tries The Washington government
was almost ready to sever diplomatic
relations, but decided to delay taking
any step until Germany could be fur
/ nished the evidence in it's possession
on the Arabic case.
! Friendliness and candor are under
stood to have characterized the con-
lversation between Mr.. Lansing and the
Ambassador The ambassador has
been given an opportunity to COM
municate freely with his government
so that it may be clearly understood
In Berlin why Washington is convinced
the torpedOing of the Arabic could
mot have been mistake, justified or
luniustifed.
1t was made clear to Count Won
BernstOrff that the United States wants
a disavowal of the act. Arbitration
can not be an issue for consideration
until the attitude of the German gov
Iernment towards the act itself Is put
ION record. Later the American gov
iernment may take under consideration
la proposal to arbitrate, not the prin-
lciple, but the indemnity to be paid for
lives lost.
i Tension was lessened today and
jthere was much more hope in both the
state department and German quar-
1ters- OF asfricndiy. adjustment. - Much
Iemphasfs was put. on the fact that for
the first time since relations became
strained, informal discussions are pro-
ceeding at both Washington. and Ber.
lin and the first opportunity for an
lexchange of views confidentially and
informally has been made possible. In
fact it was said in German quarters
that understandings might now be
reached in advance of the writing OF
formal notes
The note from Berlin which
brought the situation to crisis as
lserted that the submarine torpedoed
the Arabic because her commander
thought he liner vas about to at.
tack HIM, refused to admit liability
for indemnity for American lives lost
even If the commander was mistaken
In his belief, and offered to submit
the matter to arbitration.
I The evidence submitted by the
United States Is regarded here as
proving conclusively that until she
|submerged to launch the torpedo, the
iGerman submarine was concealed be-
hind the sinking British steamer
Dunsley and could not have been seen
from the Arabic. Furthermore, it is
shown that the Arabic was struck in
such way that the submarine must
have been at right angles from her
when the torpedo was fired instead
of In a position to make ramming by
the liner possibility.
Ambassador Won BernstOrff Is un-
derstood to have scrutinized this evil
dence carefully and to have made
certain suggestions to his foreign Of
lice. 1t will probably be ten days
before a reply can be received. With
disavOwal Of the submarine COM
mander's act, officials here feel that
Questions of indemnity can be left to
arbitral tribunals.
| Should Germany fail to satisfy the
American demands for disavowal, in
jdications tonight were that the Wash
llnStOn government would follow it's
|original purpose to sever diplomatic
Irelations.
While awaiting for the next word
from Berlin Secretary Lansing eX-
lpects to take a few days vacation.
He probably will leave after the Pan
American conference on the Mexican
situation Saturday.
Associated Press dispatches from
Berlin announcing that Ambassado
Gerard had been handed a note dis
claiming responsibility for the sinking
of the liner Hesperian and expressing
the belief that the ship struck mine
attracted comparatively little interest
here. As the lIespprian was struck
forward when we'll beyond the zone