The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-09-02
CLEARS WAY FOR
MEDIATION MOVE
Germany and England to Make
Concessions to America.
MAY REOPEN GERMAN TRADE
Washington Gets Note From Berlin
Relating to Arabic Case-May
Yield to Wilson's Demand for
Freedom Of Seas.

Washington, Aug. 31.-State depart
ment officials expressed the opinion
that the way is being cleared rapidly
for another effort by the United States
to get England and Germany to agree
to the principle of the freedom of the
seas with direct bearing on the re-
opening of neutral trade with Ger
many.
A long cable message was received
by Secretary of State Lansing from
Ambassador Gerard relating to the
Arabic case and was Of sufficient i'm
portance to require visit of Mr..
Lansing to the White House. Mr..
Lansing declined to state even the sub
ject matter of the cablegram, but it
is known that it contained a discus
sion of internal politics at Berlin, and
the Arabic case, and the general pros
poets of the terms on which an agree
ment between the United States and
Germany might be predicated.
After the receipt of this dispatch
from Mr.. Gerard, the British ambassa-
dor, Sir Cecil SpringRice called on
the state department trade advisers
and on other officials of the state de-
partment.
Great Britain to Yield.
After these two developments, it
was indicated very strongly that
Great Bri ain was willing to modify
the orders in council so far as they
affected the export of dye stuffs from
Germany and millions of dollars
worth of goods held at Rotterdam
under contract for shipment to the
United States.
Officials also indicated that the
prospective action Of Germany with
reference to the Arabic had caused
the announcement of certain conces-
sions by Great Britain, and that the
two countries were evidently now in
the mood to make concessions agree
able to the United States. The result
Of this, they said, would be to war
rant the United States in taking ad-
vantage of the new situation and Of
fering,again the good offices of this
country to get both nations to sub
scribe to the principle that free ships
mean free goods to unlocked ports
where the blockade existed under the
specific regulations of International
law.
Paves Way for Mediation.
State department authorities, read
ing between the lines of what they
have from the German foreign office,
seem to think that Germany will
frankly disavow the act of the COM
mander of the submarine who at
tackled the Arabic if he did not give
the warning required by International
law and demanded by this govern
ment. They say that great point
will be thus gained and that the next
step would be easy for Germany to
abandon all attacks on unarmed mer-
chant vessels. This would pave the
way for a second suggestion to Great
Britain by the United States in line
with the identical note of February
20. That note was distinct offer OF
mediation, provided that England and
Germany would make mutual conces-
sions.
It is not expected that Germany. in
her conCiliatory note on the Arabic,
will suggest that she is making con-
cessions on condition that the United
States exact equivalent conditions
from England.
Not Triangular Affair.
Germany has been told already by
the United States that the issues af-
fecting the United States, Germany
and England are, not a triangular af-
fair, and that the United States pro-
poses to settle with Germany and
England separately. There seems to
be no question in the minds of Off
Gals, however, that Ambassador Ger
ard will make it plain to the United
States that Germany expects the dip
lomatic quid pro quo. Officials GER
tainly believe that if the note to the
United States on the Arabic is what
is expected, the United States will be
obliged to renew it's offers of the note