Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-25
OPTIMISM IS SHOWN
AS TO OUTCOME Of
j. U.S.-GERMAN CRISIS
More Cheerful Atmosphere
Prevails at White House as
Result of Ber|in's Attitude.
PRESIDENT TO STAND
PAT ON HIS DEMANDS
Determined That Arabic Case Shall
Decide All Issues Between
Two Countries.
Won BERNSTORFF IS ELATED
Ambassador Believes Home Govern
ment Is About to Follow His Ad-
vice as to America. His
Friends Say.
PRESIDENT TO STAND
PAT ON HIS DEMANDS
Won BERNsT0RFF IS ELATED

BERLIN, August IS, via
London, A:25 p.m.-The Amer
ican ambassador, James w.
Gerard. called on Foreign Min
lister Won Jagow last evening
and asked for information con-
corning the sinking of the
steamship Arabic.
Mr.. Gerard learned that the
government had no official
news whatever on this subject.
An optimistic view that there
will be satisfactory outcome Of
the Arabic crisis was taken today
by those who are keeping in close
touch with the developments in
the situation.
The White House was content
to sit tight and await the ex-
! pected statement from the Ger
man imperial government as to
! the motives and causes back of
the sinking of the Arabic. if it is
/, finally admitted that submarine
fired the fatal torpedo; or fiat de-
nial. If the claim is made that a
submarine did not cause the dis
aster.
Although no word has dropped
that might indicate the White
| House view, it was distinctly
noticeable that more cheerful
atmosphere prevailed there. and
none doubted that President Will
son was relieved at the prospect
that official Germany might final
/ ly have reached the point of
realizating that the government of
the United States has been and is
in deadly earnest in its position
that neutral humanity and nom
combatants are not to be slaugh-
tered at sea without being given
every opportunity to save their
| lives.
There was no disposition in Of
| fetal circles to doubt the honesty
and earnestness of the German
statement OF yesterday. Outside
OF official circles, however, there
was tendency to cast doubt upon
the earnestness. OF the statement
and intimatiOnS were expressed
that its sole object was to cause
delay that might finally make for
the good OF Germany and the dis
advantage OF the Unied States.
Count Won Bernstorff Pleased.
As an offset to this view there came
word from "A thoroughly responsible
source in New York that Ambassador Won
Bernstortf is exultaut over the outlook
for "A satisfactory settlement, possibly
herman settlement of the differences
between Germany and the United States
The German ambassador has indicated to
his most intimate friends that he is high
lv pleased over the prospect that the Ger
man government is finally about to adopt
the ambassadors views the wisdom
and necessity of agreeing more fully and
frankly with the position of the United
States.
Count Won Bernstorff has been repre-
senten us having labored long. but far
in vain to induce the German government
TO take the proper viewpoint of official
and unofficial sentiment in America. Now
he believes light is breaking in Germany
ana that his embarrassments will grow
less from this time on.
Expects to Accomplish Much.
Count Won Bernstorff is said to look
forward jubilantly to the thought that
if Germany responds to the American
attitude in the submarine warfare he
will be able to accomplish wonderful
things for his country here. He has
been unable to do effective work in the
diplomatic field, it is suggested by his
friends because of the antagonism that
has been on the surface for many
months.
One fact of great importance loomed
on the horizon today 1t is that Presi-
dent Wilson is absolutely determined
that the Arabic case shall definitely
settle the issues between the United
states and Germany. Procrastination,
argument. negotiation are out of the
Question. If Germanys submarines sank
the Arabic, did they have any justih-
cation? If they did not have justifca-
ton. is Germany to apologize and
Ii hacl her n diaCon.
tinue this sort of warfare, except by
complying with existing rules of i'm
ternational warfare at sea by giving
due warning before torpedoing mer-
chantmen?
Briefly, the President is going to