The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-02

Notnt Won bcInstoTI SdHS OF ocSFc'
tary Lansing and Informs Him of
Berlin's Acquiescence in the Princi
pie insisted Upon by the United
States.
Bernstorff, the German ambassador,
on instructions from Berlin, verbally
informed Secretary Lansing that the
German government had accepted the
principle that passenger liners should
be warned before attack by subma-
rines. He will formally communicate
this information in writing later.
When Count Won Bernstorff was in.
formed by Secretary Lansing. upon
whom he called. that the United
States could not accept as final an
oral transmission of the German
point of view, he departed to prepare
the written memorandum.
After a conference at the state de
partment Ambassador Won Bernstorff
sen tSecretary Lansing this letter:
"Mr Dear Mr.. Secretary With
reference TO our conversation / 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
submarines without warning and
without safety of the lives of non
combatants. provided that the liners
do not try to escape or offer resist
ance.'
Although I know that you do not
wish to discuss the Lusitania ques
tion till the Arabic incident has beer
definitely and satisfactorily settled
desire to inform you of the above be
cause this policy of my government
was decided on before the Arabic in
cident occurred.
81 have no objection to your max
ing any use you may please of the
above information"
In connection with the letter Secre
tary Lansing made the following
statement:
"In view of the clearness of thu
foregoing statement it seems needless
to make any comment in regard to IL
other than to say that II appears t.
be a recognition of the fundamental
principles for which we have contend
ed"
Letter Sent to President.
Count Won Bernstorff's letter wa
forwarded to President Wilson a
soon as II was received at the stat
department
No formal comment was made a
the White House, but on every han'
In Official quarters there was evidenc
of qualification that the submarin
crisis had passed and that German
had acknowledged the justice of tn
principles for which President WI
son has been contending.
Count Bernstorff's announcement
that the policy had been decided upo
before the sinking of the Arab
agrees with statements by officials !
Berlin and with information on whic
American officials had been depend
ing. Soon after the dispatch of tn
last Lusitania note President Wilso
understood there would not be anotl
or such disaster. The sinking OF TN
Arabic, therefore, came as doubl
shock.
Inasmuch as 1t seems to have bee
established that the submarine whic
sunk the Arabic has been destroye
by a British patrol boat the exact ci
cumstances may never be determine
other than by testimony from Britis
and American sources.
The German governments stat
ment that before the sinking of I'll
Arabic the submarine commander
had been ordered to sink no more pa
senger ships without warning may
taken ~ a disavowal of that act.
The question of reparation for tt
Americans who lost their lives {
the Lusitania, the Arabic and oth'
ships which have been torpedoed pro
ably will be the next step in the pr
ceeding. Secretary Lansing hi
steadfastly refused to discuss the l.
s,tania case with the German amba
sador until the Arabic incident hi
been disposed of. Now, II Is believe
the way has been opened for conside
ing the Lusitania.
- - + + + I. 4. + + I. + \ +
= AUTOS TAKE LARGE TOLL
= IN CHICAGO.