Evening star., 1915-05-17
AUSTRIAN ENVOY
MEETS Mr.. BRYAN
Conference at State Depart
ment Believed to Relate to
Controversy With Germany.
NOTICE OF THE DELIVERY
OF U. S. NOTE IN BERLIN
Government Officials Decline to Com.
ment on the Possible At
titude of Kaiser.

DR., Constantin pumha. the Austrian
ambassador. had 4 Ions conference to-
day with Secretary BRYAN and other
State Department officials While the
ambassador would not discuss the OBJ
ject Of his call. the impression pre-
vailed in well informed circles that he
had endeavored to sound out feeling with
a view toward assistainE in a peaceful
settlement Of the critical situation be-
tween the United States and Germany.
1t is known that the Austrian am
hassador and Count Won Rernstorff the
German amha ssador. have been in close
consultation for several days. and that
Austria is watching with deep interest
the course of events between the United
States and her ally. Germany. throw
ing her influence in the direction of
preventing any rupture in friendly re-
lations
The seriousness Of the sinking of the
Lusitania. with the loss of about 115
American lives. the intense feeling 1t
has aroused In the United States and
the Countrywid support which has
been given to President wilson's note
are facts which both the Austrian ana
German amba ssadors are understood
to have communicated to their respec-
tive governments
1t was believed also that they had
cautioned extreme care for the present
at least in the submarine warfare to
avoid any act which would further in
tensify feeling in the United States and
asravate the situation.
United States to Stand Firm.
That the United States stands firmly
on the absolute justice, both from
legal and a humane point Of view. Of its
position and therefore has nothing to
arbitrate, was the intimation which
many officials gave as the answer to
well as informally from German sources
here. that Germany would offer to ar
bitrate the questions raised in the
American note.
The American government. IT was
pointed out. authoritatively desires an
absolute acceptance of the principle of
its contentious. though some modus
vivendi or other arrangement, to be ef-
fective during the present war, may
be considered whereby the belligerents
contraband traff1c. or to disarm mer-
chant ships plying to or from American
ports
Any such terms. it was stated. would
have to be made between the belligerents.
because the United States did not intend
the Intermediary for the adoption Of such
proposals. the legal right Of citizens Of
the United States to sail anywhere on the
high seas on their own or belligerent un-
armed ships being indisputabie from the
point of view of the legal experts of the
State Department
The United States government is still
without intima tfon from Germany con-
corning the nature of the reply Ger
many will send to the American note
IA 1f1 H@ y1a NJ
about 115 American lives with the
torpedoing of the British liner Lusi-
tania, and demanding a cessation of
the submarine warfare against mer-
chant vessels. imperiling lives of
Americans.
Official advices were received at the
State Department today from Am
bassador Gerard saying that he had
delivered the American note. but CIV
ing no details as to the manner Of its
responsible quarters regarding Ger
many's attitude.
Administration Reserves Comment.
Administration officials are reserving
comment as to the probab BILE attitude of
the German government. but in diplo-
matte circles speculation still was rife.
1ntinations by diplomats friendly to
Germany that her answer might be an
offer to suspend attacks without warn
ing on merchant ships IT the United
States would renew its informal propo-
sails for unrestricted passage of food
stuffs to Germanys civilian population
have aroused keen interest.
officials declare the United States will
not recede from its rights under inter-
national law, but intimate that if
Germany acquiesces in the American
M II
will press its contention of it's right to
ship foodstuffs to Germany. This mat
ter still Is under diplomatic discussion
It is thought proba BILE also that an
understanding might be reached giving
Germany definite assurances that no
merchant ships leaving American ports
would be armed. making II possible for
submarine commanders to exercise the
right of visit and search with impunity
Britain's Position in Doubt.
Whether Great Britain would consent
to disarm all her merchant vessels car
rying contraband is a matter Of con-
lecture. England has insisted during
the present war. and also maintained
with much vigor In her correspondence
with Russia during the Russo-Japa-
nese war. that a prize should be sunk
only I'm case of military necessity.
This position has been taken by the
United States in its naval code Of in
structions on the theory that destruc-
tion to neutral goods of non contra
band character aboard belligerent mer-
chantmen would require the payment
of heavy damages.
There has long been some difference
of legal opinion. however. Is to wheth-
er neutral goods could be shipped with
legal immunity aboard an armed or
even an unarmed merchantmen of bel
ligerent nationality, and 1t is the arm
ing of merchantmen which Germany
has contended makes 1t difficult for
submarines to give warning
That the question of permitting
Americans to travel on armed mer-
chantmen may be shortly taken under
consideration Is intimated in well in
formed quarters On the other hand
some officials believe there will be little
necessity for this. as Great Britain al
ready has formally agreed not to arm
her vessels plying between British and
American ports.
Regarded as Hopeful Sign.
What Is regarded as one of the hope
full signs in the general situation is
the confidence reflected in of1cial and
diplomatic quarters that Germany will
meet the United States at least halfway
and certainly will suspend her subma-
rine attacks without warning during
the diplomatic correspondence