The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-09-03
ACCEPTS PRINCIPLE
WASHINGTON SEEKS
GERMANY ACCEDES TO PROPOSAL
FOR SAFETY AT SEA.
Kaisers Navy Will Sink No More Pas
senger Vessels Without Warning
and Safety for Passengers.

Washington, Sept. 1.-Strained rela-
tions between the United States and
Germany over submarine warfare ap-
parently passed into history today af-
ter Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, informed Secretary Lans-
ire in writing that prior to the sinking
Of the Arabic his government had de-
cided that it's submarine 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
Bernstorf, after call at the state de-
partment today, returned to the en-
bassy and sent a letter to Mr. Lansing
quoting instructions from Berlin con-
cerning an answer to me made to the
last American note on the sinking OF
the Lusitania, that official frankly ad
nit their qualification over the changed
position of the imperial government.
Secretary Lansing said in a formal
statement that the letter appears to
be recognition of the freedom prin-
c1ple for which we have contended."
he Immediately sent the letter to the
White House and discussed it in cheer
full vein with his callers, which in
cluded Chief Justice White, Secretary
McAdoo and Senator Tillman of South
Carolina Everywhere in official cir
cles there was a visible relaxation.
The note, it was said, will be for
nal communication from the German
government disavowing the destruction
of the Arabic and rendering regret and
reparation for American lives lost in
the disaster if the attack was made by
a German submarine. Even if the sub
marine that torpedoed the liner subse-
quentIy was sunk by British man OF
war, as has been suggested both from
Berlin and London, the Berlin foreign
Office is expected to send its disavowal
as soon as a reasonable time has
passed without report from its COM
mander.
Once the situation growing out of
the Arabic incident has been disposed
of the response to the long hnanswer-
ed American note on the Lusitania
will be dispatched, and if Germany's
explanation and proposals in this case
are accepted by the United States, both
officials and diplomats here expect the
way to. be cleared for complete IN
derstanding between the two govern
ments on the subject of freedom of
the seas.
Count Won Bernstor's letter, which
revealed for the first time that Ger
many had prepared an answer to the
Lusitania noted which was about to
be dispatched when the Arabic was de-
stroyed, reads:
my Dear Mr.. Secretary: With ref
erence to our conversation of this
morning I beg to inform you that my
instructions concerning our answer to
your last Lusitania note contains the
following passage:
Liners will not be sunk by our
summaries without warning and with
out safety of the lives of noncombat-
ants, provided that the liners do not
try to escape or offer resistance
Although I know that you do not
wish to discuss the Lusitania suestion
till the Arabic incident has been def
nitely and satisfactorily settled, I de-
sire to inform you of the above because
this policy of my government was de-
cided on before the Arabic incident
occurred.
81 have no objection to your making
any use you please of the above in
formation.
81 remain, my dear Mr.. Lansing,
very sincerely your,
"J. Bernstorff."
In connection with the letter Secre-
tary Lansing made the following state
ment:
"In view of the clearness of the fore
going statement, it seems needless to
make any comment in regard to it
other than to say that it appears to be
a recognition of the fundamental prin-
ciples for which we have contended."
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