Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22

yet to be divulged. a claim that tho
vessel was attempting to escape, how
ever. will>hardly be considered as logi-
cal. iii that no suggestion has yet been
advanced from any quarter that
warning was given by the submarine.
Secretary Lansing spent nearly an
hour with the President. After the
conference the secretary said the add
ministration was still without infor-
nation upon which II could base an
opinion as to the circumstances sur
rounding the sinking of the Arabic.
Secretary Lansing said it was plain
that the meager reports so far received
do not reveal the entire story. That
the administration is to await the COM
plete story was indicated by the Secre-
tary as he left the White House.
Mr.. Lansing denied rumors that 1t
has already been decided to recall AM
bassador Gerard, which would mean
severance OF diplomatic relations.
CENSORSHIP ADDS TO
AIR OF UNCERTAINTY
The censorship established by the
British government over press accounts
concerning the case of the Arabic
added to the uncertainty in official
quarters to-day. Such n censorship, eX-
tending apparently to all messages ex-
cept those relating TO the identity. Of
survivors,, necessarily conveys to the
official and public mind here that the
more important points In connection
with the disaster are yet to be brought
out
II there is nothing for the British
government to conceal 1t is not under
stood why there should be a censorship.
Furthermore, official reports from tho
consular office ut Queenstown and the
embassy at London have been few and
lacking IN essential details.
That eventualities have not yet been
discussed by the President and the Sec
rotary OF State. was disclosed this af-
ternoon. II was also learned that the
Cabinet had never discussed what
course the government would take In
the event Germany deliberately disre
garded the position assumed by the
United States in its latest note on the
Lusitania case.
The Zellah Covington affidavit is I'M
derstood to have first raised in the
mind OF the administration the thought
that there is much yet to be learned
about the Arablcs destruction. 1t has
resulted In n determined quest for full
information before this government as
sumes n definite attitude
1t is assumed that Germany may in
cidentally plead that the Arabic was
ship which has carried vast stores OF
ammunition and war supplies out Of
New York on recent voyages While IL
may be admitted that this made her
desirable prey, from the German view
point. the administration cannot take
this fact into consideration when deal
ing with the destruction of the vessel
at time when It could not have been
carrying war supplies.
NO ATTEMPT is MADE
TO MINIMIZE SERIOUSNESS
No attempt is made in official quar-
ters to-day TO minimize the extreme
seriousness of the Issue which con-
fronts the administration, but the
President and his advisers It can be
authoritatively stated, are not TO be
stampeded into radical action Of any
character. 1t is apparent that there
Is to be the fullest inquiry and this
government will he sure of it's facts
before Germany is asked to cxpla in
the incident or steps taken toward
breaking off diplomatic relations
Inc pOlCy Oh caution anu SurenesS
on the administrators part was prob
ably strengthened to-day by the evil
dent disinclination of the country at
large to become excited over the Arabic
case. Less than Il score OF kilograms
and letters reached the White House
on this subject, and these expressions
show that public opinion is about
evenly divided between radical and
conservative proposals.
The many communications which
reached the President from every sec
ton when the Lusitania was torpe-
doed have not been duplicated and the
public is apparently willing to leave
the solution Of the new and grave
problem TO the President and his adj
visers.
NO CONVOY WAS WITH
WHITE STAR LINER
LONDON. August 21.-The White
Star liner Arabic was not heinz CON