The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-04
GERMAN HONOR
IS PLEDGED
A Belief That Berlin Will
Not bubble in the
Matter
LINER" TO MEAN
MERCHANT VESSEL
"Disavowal' of Sinkings Is
Expected .Soon--Compen-
sation Cases to The Hague

Washington Sept. 4,-lntormatlon
coming from Berlin that the Imperial
German government will offer TO submit
the claims for compensation arising in
the sinking of the Lusitania and the
Arabic to The Hague for adiustifcaton
is confirmed here. The offer probably
will be accepted by the United States.
Persons who speak with authority say
it would be difficult to fix the measure
of damages in these cases through dlplo-
matte negotiations. The willingness of
the German government to let the ques-
ton OF money reparation 90 TO Inc
Hague would carry with it, SO officials
here say, a disavowel of the sinking OF
the two vessels
No intimation has come to this gov
eminent that Germany intends to ask
that the principle involved in the con-
troversy between the two nations shall
be submitted to The Hague. The state
department has a clear understanding
on the verbal as well as written state
ments made to it by the German am
bassador, Count Won Bernstortf, that
Germany accepts the propositions of the
United States in principle, and that the
i
fact and offer to pay such damages for
the sinking of the Lusitania and the
Arabic as may be agreed upon by The
Hague Tribunal. Ii is well understood
here that the state department has been
informed in advance as to every propo- |
sition that win be set out in the Ger
man note which is to be submitted short |
ly. During the last few days there have !
been numerous private exchanges be- |
tween the two governments as to just |
what would satisfy the United States. |
There are excellent reasons for believing |
that the German office already knows /
that this government win express its /
Willingness to let the question as to the
measure of money damages go to The
Hague.
There is no disposition in official quar-
tiers here to question the good faith OF
Germany in the negotiation that are now
going on, but it will be useless to con-
ceal the fact that there is still some
uneasiness over the situation. The ae-
ceptance of the principle for which the
the United States has contended is re-
garded as placing the two governments
on such friendly basis as win enable
to details without great delay. The Of
fer of the German government to guar
antee protection TO steamships known
as "liners" only undoubtedly will be
subject for further consideration by
Secretary OF State Lansing and the Ger
man ambassador The United States, .
il is learned, is willing TO accept the
view that the word ''liners" means all j
pa ssenger boats Should Germany agree
Ia this definition of the word, il was said
Yesterday, there would probably be no
hitch over the use of the word in the =
German communication.
Press dispatches from Berlin yester-
day intimating that the German govern
ment might insist on laying down Ger. I
tain rules and regulations with respect r
10 the sailing of liners and the noti- (
fication OF the German admiralty as to il
their whereabouts were somewhat dis
turbing TO government officials. IL seems B
certain that the United States win in
sist on the assurance that passenger Z
ships will not be sunk without warning, n
search, etc. II can be said authorize
lively that this government is not dis n
posed 90 let minor teehnicalities stand d
in the way OF a complete understanding y
with Germany at this time Undoubted- I
IL both the president and Secretary OF e
state Lansing have felt right along that
the great thing 20 be obtained was rec q
ignition from the Imperial German gov y
arnment of the sea rights Of neutrals
- guaranteed by international law and
usage.
The guarantee, Of the recognition Of 6
he large principle involved, Il IL point.
a out, is set out in the note the Ger.
nan ambassador has filed with Score.
AIRY Of State Lansing. Nothing but the lol
inwillingness Of Germany 20 live mp 20 -
e guarantee. 20 follow IL with a com ii
nunicati0n that would seriously m0di- id
y the guarautee--it Is aseribed. can now 81
Itand IN the way 81 a final solution or az
he problems that have vexed the two
governments Tor 80 MANY months. ia
u j. understood here that Count won Il
3srnstorf. the German ambassador. has a
zen given instructions 20 proceed with az
ieg0tistions seeking % clear entirely 'cl
h questions 81 issue between the Unit
4 states and Germany over submarine
taffare "a soon 80 the United States BE-
eady 10 enter into negotiations The =.
AMBASSADOR has been told. however. that -
- question If reparafiou viii not BE-
discussed until satisfactory etplana.
ion 81 the attack upon the Arabic has A,
- ma