The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-09-03
Formal Letter Sent to Secretary
Of State Lansing.
STRAINED RELATIONS OF TWO
COUNTRIES NOW RELIEVED
No More Passenger Vessels VIII be
Sunk Without Warming to the Pass
engerS.

| Washing gton-Strained relations be-
| tween the United States and Germany
over submarine warfare apparently
passed into istory Wednesday after
Count Won Bernsdorff, the German am
bassador, informed Secretary Lansing
in writing that prior to the sinking
of the Arabic his government had
deci1ed that its submarines should
sink no more liners without warning.
Oral assurances to this effect had
| been given by the ambassador last
week. But it was not until Count Won
Bernsdorff, after call at the state
department Wednesday, returned To
the embassy and sent letter to MIR
Lansing quoting instructions from
Berlin concerning an answer to lie
made to the last American note on
the sinking of the Lusitania, that Of
ficials frankly admitted their gratifi-
cation over the changed position of
the imperial government,
Secretary Lansing said in formal
statement that the letter appears to
be recognition of the fundamental
principle for which we have con-
tended"
He Immediately sent the communi-
; cation to the White House and dis
cussed it in cheerful vein.
Tension Relaxes.
Everywhere in administration cir
cles there was a visible relaxation of
the tension which had existed ever
4 since the Lusitania tragedy, though
lessened by the earlier assurances OF
Count Won Bernsdorff and advices
4 from Ambassador Gerard as to the at
0 titude of the officials in Berlin.
S The next step, it is said, authori-
!, tatively will be formal communica-
3 ton from the German government,
4 disavowing. the destruction of the
l. Arabic and rendering regret and rep
: aartion for American lives lost il the
y attack was made by a German sub
: marine.
Y Even if the submarine which tor
It pedoed the liner subsequently was
S sunk by British man of war, as has
n been suggested both from Berlin and
London, the Berlin foreign Office ID
as reasonable time has passed with
expected to send its disavowal as soon
out report from its commander.
Won Bernsdorffs letter which re-
vealed for the first time that Ger
l. many had prepared an answer to the
Lusitania note which has about to be
dispatched when the Arabic was de-
u concerning our attitude to your last
u Lusitania note contains the follow
e ing. Liners will not be sunk by our
j submarines without warning and
=. without safety for the lives of non
u combatants, provided the liners do not
, try to escape or offer resistance. AL
r though l know you do not wish to
l. discuss the Lusitania question till the
T. Arabic incident is definitely and salts
'O factorily settled, l desre to inform
NJ you of the above, because this is the
policy my government decided on be
fore the Arabic incident occurred
Contentious Recognized.
In connection with this letter Secre
. tary Lansing made the following
\ statement: "In view of the clearnes
: Of the foregoing statement it SEEM
= needless to make any comment. othe
than it appears to be recognition Q
the fundamental principle for whic
we commended"
Secretary Lansing interpreted lin
er" as used in the letter to mean al
peaceful merchant ships. Later In In
formal conversation the German am
bassador explained that regular pas
senger vessels were meant. Their
lseemed to be no disposition. however
to question tn intention of the Bel
lin government to grant the funds
- mental demands of the United State
and officials were inclined to wa
for the formal communication withot
discussing the meaning of terms.
! was pointed out, too, that the CASE
at issue between the two government
concern passenger liners and that {
far no question had arisen as to
freight vessel carrying Americans
\ her crew