Evening star., 1915-09-13
Discuss Relations With U. S.
Growing Out of Torpedoing
of Ocean Liners.
NEGOTIATIONS BELIEVED p"
PROCEEDING AMICABLY
Agreement for Arbitration on Rep.
aration for American Lives Lost
May Be Reached.

Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador conferred with
Secretary Lansing at noon today
in an endeavor to clear up the dis
puted points in the relations be-
tween the United States and Ger
many growing out of the tor
pedoing of peaceful passenger
steamships by German subma-
rines, more particularly the case
of the steamship Arabic, tor
|pedoed by a German submarine.
The conference lasted thirty
minutes. Upon leaving the State
Department the ambassador said
to inquirers:
Il really cannot say anything
about what | said to the Secretary
or what he said to me. That rests
with Secretary Lansing. | really
cannot talk to you now"
The ambassador made it clear,
however, that there was not
deadlock. Some of his interview
ers found in his manner some
thing on which to forecast a ia
vorable outcome. 1t is believed
by some officials that arbitration
may be agreed upon.
Secretary Also Silent.
Secretary Lansing. like the ambas-
sador. refused to discuss his confer.
ence in any way. When Count Won
Bernstorff returned to the embassy he
sent a report to his foreign Office
which was believed to outline the evil
dence Secretary Lansing has to show
the Arabic was torpedosd without
warning and to controvert the claim
that she was about to ram the sub
marine. 1t was understood that the
conference developed no suggestion
from either side that the principles
of submarine warfare be included In .
proposal for arbitration. The inference
which officials allowed to go out was
that the negotiations were. SO far. pro-
ceeding amicably and were awaiting
further developments between WASH
ington and Berlin.
Two hours previously Secretary
Lansing had left the White House with
a leather case full of papers bearing
on the strained relations with the CEN
trail European powers. He would say
nt n mo m 10 NRyifl
President.
1t was felt at the State Department
that Count Won Bernstorff's visit is
part of a sincere attempt to bring the
situation to point where this gov
ernment will agree to submit the ques-
ton in the Arabic case to arbitration.
Assurances to Be Confirmed.
1t was further believed that before
this government will enter negotia-
tion on the Arabic case in particular or
any other phase of the general sub
ject which might include the sinking
of the Lusitania. it will be necessary
first to confirm Germany's assurances
of the cessation of attack by subma-
rines on liners. The declaration that
the United States would not discuss
the Lusitania until ii had been estab-
lished whether the sinking of the
Arabic was a justified act increases
the Importance OF the decision OF the
Arabic note.
After Secretary Lansing left the
President he announced that no de-
cision had been reached as to Ger
manys proposal to arbitrate the case.
this announcement causing slight
surprise as 1t had been believed the
matter was decided one way or the
other.
Count Won Bernstorf was optimistic
that the relations between this coun-
nfyo1 nf
would become less strained. He be-
lieved there would be an amicabl ad-
iustment of the disarrangements caused
by :he sinking of the Arabic and other
ships.
German View of Situation.
The German view, it was said. was
that an agreement could be reached to
arbitrate the question of reparation for
American lives lost in the ship. mas
much as the Berlin note had renewed
assurances that submarine commanders
had been ordered not to attack peaceful
liners without warning.
Administration officials maintained
silence. not only on the Arabic situa-
ton, but on the Dumba case. Never
theless it was understood that while
Germany's explanation OF the sinking
of the Arabic was considered unsatis-
sent to the arbitration of the repara-
tion issue if the discussion were linn
tied to the question of fact as to
whether the submarine commander was
justified in launching his TORPEDO.
That would not involve general prin-
ciples for which the Washington gov
ernment has contended The Berlin
note declared the commander attacked
the Arabic because he thought she
was about to ram the submarine. Testi
mony of the liners passengers. how
ever, tends to show the ship was tor.
pedoed without warning.
Government officials awaited news from
Penfeld on Austria's recep-
ton of the request that Ambassador
Dumba be recalled. Press dispatches had
stated that the Vienna foreign office
would accede without precipitating an is
sue
ATTACK nm THE 0RD||NL