Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-16
Details Of the Conference be-
tween Secretary Lansing and
Won Bernstorff Just Known
Disclose Tense Situation.
TALK WAS TO THE POINT
United States Government De-
layed Action to Give Ambas-
sador Full Opportunity to
Communicate with His COun-
try.

Washington, Sept. 14.-Prospects for
favorable adjustment between the United
States and Germany depend entirely on
tn attitude which the Berlin foreign Of
flee will take toward the recommendations
made to-day by Count Won Bernstorff. the
German ambassador. after his conference
yesterday with Secretary Lansing.
| Details OF the conference became known
to-day. throwing light on the critical
point that had been reached in the reln.
tons between the two countries. The
Washington government was almost
ready to sever diplomatic relations but
decided to delay taking any step until
Germany could be furnished the evidence
In its possession on the Arabic case
Friendliness and candor are understood
TO have characterized the conversation
between Mr. Lansing and the ambassa-
dor. The latter now has been given an
opportunity to communicate freely with
his government SO that 1t may be clearly
understood in Berlin why officials here arc
convinced that the torpedoing Of this
Arabic could not have been n mistake
justified or unjustlfied
In view Of the evidence, the United
States wants a disavowal of the act.
Bernstorff. Arbitration cannot be an
issue for consideration until the atti-
tude of the German government to-
ward the act itself is placed on record.
! Later the American government may
take under consideration proposal to
arbitrate. not the principle. but what
indemnity should be paid for lives
| lost
Tension was lessened to-day and
there was much more hope in both
state department and German quarters
Of friendly adjustment than there
had been in several days. Much en-
phasis was placed on the fact that for
the first time since relations became
strained informal discussions are pro-
ceeding both at Washington and Ber-
lin and the freest opportunity for an
exchange of views confdentially and
| Informally has been made possible.
In fact it was predicted in German
quarters that understandings might
now be reached in advance of the
writing of formal notes
The note from Berlin which brought
the situation to a crisis asserted that
| the submarine torpedoed the Arabic be-
cause her commander thought the liner
was about to attack him. refused to
admit liability for indemnity for Amer
lean lives lost even if the commander
was mistaken In his belief and offered
| to submit the matter to arbitration
The evidence which has been submit
ted to the United States Is regarded
here as proving conclusively that until
she submerged TO launch the torpedo
against the Arabic. the German sub
marine was concealed behind the sink
ing British steamer Dunsley and could
not have been seen by the captain of
the Arabic. Furthermore. it Is shown
that the Arabic was struck in such a
way that the submarine must have been
at right angles from her when the tor
pedo was fired. instead OF in a position
to make ramming by the liner posi-
bility.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff is under
stood to have scrutinzed this evidence
carefully and to have made certain sug-
gestions to his foreign office. 1t prob
ably will be 10 days before n reply can
he received II disavowal is made of
the submarine commanders act. officials
here feel that questions Of indemnity
then can be left to arbitral tribunals
American demand for disavownl. indca-
tions tonight We're that the Washing
ton government would follow it's orig
inal purpose to sever diplomatic rela-
tons While waiting for the next word
from Berlin, Secretary Lansing expects
to take n few days vacation. He prob
ably will leave after the Pan American
conference on the Mexican situation Sat
urday.
Associated Press dispatches from Ber-
lin announcing that Ambassador Gerard
had been handed note disclaiming re-
sponsibiity for the sinking Of the liner
Iiesperian and expressing the belief that
the ship struck mine attracted COM
paratively little attention here, As the
Hespcrian was struck forward when well
beyond the zone in which the German
submarines usually operate and as no
one on board saw submarine or a
! torpedo, officials had not expected an
Issue to develop over this case.