Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-15
AMERICA INSISTS.


ayoW responsibility for the sinking of the
arabic and the loss of two American lives is
Jnstihed IN view of the facts so far as known.
uefmany's only possible ground for refusing
2 dlsavowal must be that the German subma-
rlne commander thought the Arabic was trying
70 ram him, and on this point neither the Ger
man admiralty or the foreign office at Berlin
nas made a detailed or satisfactory explana-
Ion
AT this distance from Washington it is diff
cult to get the true perspective on the Situa-
llon even were there not such a lack of ma
lerlal facts 1t is eOniectured from the German
p'inllraltv's silence as to the fate of the sub,
marine which torpedoed the Arabic that the
under-sea& raider has been lost. Even this is
not known Washington may be informed as
~ the circumstances under which the Arabic
rpeeiyedll er death-blow, but the public is not
There Is, however, no question that Germany
nas given America to understand that the
fafety OF American lives at sea is pledged.
1haf assurance was contained In the note
Nhlch Ambassador Won Bernstorff sent to Sec
retary Of State Lansing on September T. The
full story concerning this note has not before
been published in Hawaii The facts are that
on september Secretary Lansing called on
the president to discuss the t. S. German sit 3
nation and upon his return to his office re-
eeived the German ambassador. After few
minutes Count svon Bernstortf came from the
conference bea1ning with an evident satisfacr
ton. Il was then given ont that at the confer
fnce tile ambassador assured Mr. Lansing that
his government had ordered its submarine
commanders not to endanger the lives OF
americans and hat the United States might
rest confident there would be no more killing
of its citizens
Secretary Lansing asked the German ambass
sador to put his statement in writing, to which
Count Won Bernstorf readily agreed and sent
by messenger the following note to Mr.
fansing
NY Dear Mr. Secretary: 50 49, 80 49, Il !
With reference to conversation of this morn
ing beg TO inform you that my Instructions con-
eerning our answer to your last Lusitania note con-
tain the following passage: f6s5 S@ss-5 -.
Liners will not be sunk by our submarines with
warning and without safety of the lives of
eombatants. provided that the liners do not try TO
escape or offer resistance" So a. 10 - L.
Although know that you do not wish. to discuss
the Lusitania question till the Arabic incident has
definitely satisfactorily settled, desire to
inform you OF the above because this policy Of my
government was decided on before the Arabic tnci-
have no objection to your making any use You
may please Of the above information s<%7sAS
remain, my dear Mr.. Lansing. very sincerely |
washington, Sept T. - BERNsTeRFF
1t Is upon the oral ana written assurances oil
the German ambassador, soicing the views of
his government that the United States now
expects Germany to disavow the sinking of the
Arabic If the German commander made a
mistake, thought the Arabic, in going to the
rescne of a stricken vessel, was trying to ram
him, and for that reason discharged the tor
pedo, Germany's disavowal may. consistently
be made. An explanation of the mistake will
not restore the lives of the Americans who were
killed but it will show that the German com
5nansIer struck only after he believed the
steamer had taken the offensive against him.
BIZ disavowing intention to sink the Arabic
without warning, Germany may then continue
her proposals for discussion of indemnity.
Washington is not demanding that the Ger
mar submarine campaign upon British amer
chant vessels cease Furthermore, the United
states is opposing the British blockade as
firmly as it is opposing submarine attacks
which violate American rights. A disavowaI
by Germany of the Arabic sinking will i'm
menselyaaid the United States in its representa-
fions toGreat Britain upon the blockade, and
thns anaeliorate condition which Germany
eiyes as justification for her submarine cam
paion j