Evening star., 1915-05-16

Germany has officially received the
note from the United States regarding
the Lusitania affair. ana this govern
ment has been SO notified by American
Ambassador Gerard
It IL expected in official circles that
Germany's reply will not be transmit
ted for about eight days. but it is prob
able that Mr.. Gerard before that time
ment and semi official press received
| the note.
That Germany will refrain in the
passenger vessels Is the belief alike Of
administration and German embassy
officials.
Word from Ambassador Gerard to the
State Department last evening that he
had read and presented to Herr Won
Jagow. minister for foreign affairs of
American note sent Thursday as a
consequence of the Lusitania tragedy
and other occurrences in the war zone,
removed all anxiety here over the de-
lay in transmission. and awakened in
tense interest in the nature OF Ger
mans reply
Telegraphic and cable delays and the
probable necessity for conferences be-
tween the foreign minister with the
imperial chancellor, Won Bethmann
liam himself. will prevent Germany's
reply from being received within a
week, in the opinion of well informed
| circles here.
| Arbitration Is Hinted.
| The intimation which came in press
dispatches Indirectly from Berlin to
the effect that Germany would willing
| ly submit the questions raised by the
American note to arbitration was re-
ceived with much interest, and it was
| indicated that If there was sus-
| pension of submarine warfare on mer-
| chant ships while the discussion was
| in progress the plan might be given
| serious consideration by the American
| government.
| Arbitration, also has been talked of
| here before press dispatches arrived
| Some German officials intimated that,
| although without advices from Berlin,
| they were confident from previous
| knowledge of the desire Of the Ger
| with the United States that arbitration
| would be welcomed. The difficulty of
| constituting court of arbitration at
| this time, when most of the great
| desired are at war. was pointed out by
| some diplomatists, however, as max
| ing the plan tmpracticable.
! Expect Amicable Settlement.
That some way would be found to
reach an amicable settlement between
\ the United States and Germany was
the growing conviction OF many Of
| ncials and diplomatists. A variety of
| suggestions were heard.
! One which was given serious thought
rnfr al
belligerent ships carrying munitions of
| war or absolute contraband II they also
! carried passengers. This would involve
no embargo, but a separation of pas
senger and contraband traffic.
| The United States stands firmly on the
legal right of its citizens to travel on
any ships and believes it's position is
indisputable. Germany, however. holds
| that this has become debatable cues
| tton on account OF changed conditions
| trafic were separated submarines
would direct their attention to contra
| band ships alone.
Humane Treatment Required.
| The objection to this, however, in the
opinion of some officials, is that the
plan still would not provide for the
humane treatment which international
| law prescribes for the crew of a vessel
| carrying contraband and making no
resistance to visit and search or any
attempt to run a blockade. To torpedo
| without warning or even to give time
| for the ere wof a vessel carrying con-
| traband to get into small boats, It was
| pointed out. would leave them to the
| mercy OF the high seas unless a big
| boat happened to be nearby.
| This is the position taken in the
/ American note, and some officials
] CONTINUED on Nineteenth Pags.l