Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23
GERMANY WILL
CAREFULLY SCAN
ARABIC EVIDENCE
Further Assurances That En-
envy Passenger Ships Will
Not BE Attacked with
out Fair Warming.

Berlin, Sept 19-The German govern
ment will give its careful consideration
to the evidence concerning the sinking of
the steamship Arabic, submitted by the
American government through Ambassa-
dor Gerard. Gottieb Won Jagow, the for
eign minister, made statement to this
effect in an Interview Saturday with the
Associated Press.
The foreign minister went fully into the
present status of the submarine problem
and the circumstances which for time
threatened to revive the tension between
Germany and America He expressed
complete confidence that. in view of the
instructions which had been given and tho
precautions now being taken. the poss
blity Of further incidents in connection
with the submarine campaign which
would disturb the relations between tho
two countries had been virtually elimi-
mated. The instructions TO the subma-
rine commanders, he said. were precise
and definite. and that the policy they had
been ordered to adopt was based upon the
approval Of the Kaiser
Germany, Herr Won Jagow said would
participate willingly in the negotiations
now being taken up in Washington and
hoped for the most satisfactory results
thcrefrom.
| He said Germany could not we'll repudi-
ate the report of the commander of the
submarine which sank the Arabic: never
theless. there was room for a difference of
| opinion, and Germany would examine
carefully the evidence from Washington.
He repeated the assurance that enemy
passenger steamers which respected the
| maritime code would not be attacked
without warning. saying explicit direc-
lions had been given the submarine COM
manders. and that the whole German gov
eminent stood behind this policy.
1T would seem, Your Excellency,"
said the correspondent, that tho re-
newal Of tension In the submarine pucs-
ton is largely due, so far as German
factors are concerned. to three main
! causes: First, to the failure to follow IN
Ambassador Won Bernstorff's recent dec
| larations at Washington and the assur-
ances communicated to Ambassador
| Gerard here with negotiations to arrive
| at some more definite and formal under
standing regarding forms of submarine
| warfare: second. to the wording Of the
Arabic note. parts OF which, according
to English cable dispatches seem to have
caused an unfavorable impression in the
United States, and. finally, to apprehen-
| sion OF certain lack of harmony be-
tween German declaration of policy, as
embodied in the Instructions to subma-
rine commanders communicated by AM
bassador Won Bernstorh, and the practi-
cal application Of this policy. whether
due to accidents. misapprehensons, OF
| ut W no OF II,
of further enlargement Of American
lives at sea may not be altogether ex-
cluded. I mention these matters frankly
because there seems to be reason to he.
lieve that the change from the optimism
of a fortnight ago may be based on mis-
understandings and lack Of knowledcc
of the attitude of the German govern
ment"
The foreign minister welcomed the OPP
portunity to make clear Germanys posi-
ton. Concerning the Arabic case, h,
said
I'VE hope that our offer to refer the
case to The Hague for adjudication viii
provide a satisfactory settlement. in case
the United States and Germany are not
able to adjust the question by direct
negotiations. We could not. you vii
HuIrllt wei 20 DeTlnu the report OF III.
commander Of our submarine or ques
ton his honest belief, based on tn,
Arabic's actions. that the British captain
was planning to attack his craft, par
ticularly as long as We had against i
only press reports and the word of th'
British captain. And in this case III,
master and owner Of the ship which dis
carded It's peaceful character, as unfor
tunately British ships repeatedly hav,
done. and assumed the role of aggressor
should be held responsible for the los.
of life, not Germany
There may be room for honest DIFF
} ference OF opinion on this point. how
evec, and We are perfectly willing thor
! oughly to examine the summary of evi
dence which the American government
has transmitted to us this very day
only few hours ago, and which hav
not even had time to peruse."