Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-09-02

strained Relations Over Submarine
Warfare Apparently Passes Into His.
| tory When Count Won Bernstorff In.
! forms Secretary Lansing In Writina
| That Prior to the Sinking Of tho
Arabic His Government Had Oecid.
| cd That Its Submarines Should Sink
| No More Liners Without Warning.
Submarine Undoubtedly Lost.
! WASHINGTON. Sept. 1.--Strained
relations between the United States
and Germany over submarine warfare
apparently passed into history today
after Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador. informed Secretary
Lansing In writing that prior to the
sinking OF the Arabic his government
had decided that its submarines
lShould sink no more liners without
warning.
Oral assurances to this effect had
been given by the ambassador last
| week. But IL was not until Count
Won Bernstorff, after cali as the state
department today, returned to the en-
bassy and sent n letter to Mr.. Ian
| sing. quoting instructions from Ber-
lin concerning M answer to be made
TO the last American note on the sink
Ing OF the Lusitania, that officials
frankly admitted their qualification
over the changed position OF the i'm
perial government.
Secretary Lansing said, In n formal
statement, that "the letter appears to
De a recognition OF the fundamental
principles for which we have con.
tended" He Immediately sent the
IN n mn 4 nj tf1ft ftsN.1 On,
ana discussed II In cheerful vein.
Everywhere In official circles there
was visible relaxation OF the tension
which had existed ever since the Lusi-
tania tragedy. though lessened by the
earlier assurances of Count Won Bern
torff and advices from Ambassador
Gerard M to the attitude OF officials
In Berlin.
The next step. II IL said, authorita.
lively Will be u formal communica.
tlon from the German government dis.
hvowing the destruction Of the Arabic
ana rendering regret and reparation
for American lives lost in the disas.
ter. II the attack was made by a Ger
man submarine. Even II the subma.
rine which torpedoed the steamer Ia.
ter was sunk by British vessel OF
war, AZ has been suggested both from
berlin ana London, the Berlin foreign
ofilce IL expected to send It's disayoW.
al hs soon al IL reasonable time has
passed without report from its com
mander.
once the situation growing out of
the Arabic incident has been disposed
or the response to the long-unan.
sWered American note on the Lusi.
tanin VIII be dispatched, and II Ger,
Snany's explanations and proposals In
this case are accepted by the United
States. both officials and diplomats
mere expect the way to be cleared for
complete understanding between
tne Two governments on the subject
OF freedom of the seas. In German
circles 1t is freely admitted that in
beriin a hope prevails that such an
understanding would be followed BY
ihsistent action by the United States
10 stop interference with neutral com.
merce by Great Britain and her allies.
which prevent Germany from import.
ins Iood supplies for her civil pOpula.
tiOn.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff's letter.
whlch revealed for the first time that
Germany had prepared an answer 10
the Lusitania note which was about
to be dispatched when the Arabic was
about to be destroyed follows:
my Dear Mr.. Secretary: With ref.
erence to our conversation of thia
morning. | beg to inform you that INV
instructions concerning our answer to
your last Lusitania note contain tho
following passage:
.iners will MT l.. ..-,
submarines without warning and with.
OUT saiety Tor the lives of the non.
Gohoatahts, provided that the liners
uo not Try 10 escape or offer any re.
sistance.'
although l know that you do not
wish 10 discuss the Lusitania ques.
tion until the Arabic incident has
Deen definitely and satisfactorily set.
tied, ! desire to inform you of the
above because this policy of my gov
erhment was decided on before the
Arabic incident occurred.
i have no objection to your max.
ing any use you may please Of the
above information. | remain, my dear.
Mr.. Lansing,
Very sincerely yours.
81. BERNSTORFF."
Secretary Lansing interpreted the
liner as used In the letter. to mean
all peaceful merchant ships. Later in
informal conversation the German am.
hassador explained that regular pas.
senger vessels were meant. There
seemed to be no disposition. however.
to question the intention of the Berlin
government to grant the fundamental
demands of the United States, and
officials were inclined to wait tor the
informal communication without dis.
cussing the meaning Of terms, It was
pointed out, too. that the cases at ia.
sue between the two governments con.
Germ passenger liners and that 40 far
no question had arisen as to a freisht
vessel l:arcYinp Auaoxioo. n sS-s