The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-02
DECLARATION OF
US. IS ACCEPTED
BY THE GERMANS
No More Passenger Ships to
Be Sunk Without
Ample Warning.
Won BERNSTORFF so
ASSURES LANSING
Both Oral and Written As
surances to That Effect
Have Been Given.
Won BERNSTORFF SO
ASSURES LANSING
~ ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, Sept. Germany
has accepted the declaration of the
United States in the submarine war
fare controversy. Count Won Bern
storff, the German ambassador today
gave oral and written assurances to
Secretary Lansing that no more pas
senger ships would be sunk without
warning.
After conference at the state de-
partment, Ambassador Won Bern
storff sent Secretary Lansing this
letter:
''My dear Mr.. Secretary: With ref
erence to our conversation of this
morning, beg to inform you that
my instructions concerning our an
swer to your last Lusitania note con-
tains the following passage:
"'Liners viii not be sunk by our
submarines without warning and
without safety of the lives of nom
combatants, provided that the liners
do not try to escape or offer resist
ance.
/ Although l know that you do not
wish to discuss the Lusitania ques-
ton till the Arabic incident has been
definitely and satisfactorily settled,
| desire to inform you Of the above
because this policy of my government
was decided on before the Arabic in
cident occurred.
II have no objection to your MAX
ing any use you may please of the
above information.
Il remain, my dear Mr.. Lansing,
very sincerely yours,
81. Won BERNSTORFF.D
In connection with the latter Sec
rotary Lansing made the following
statement:
'sIn view of the clearness of the
foregoing statement it seems need
less to make any further statement
in regard to it.
Bernstorff's letter was forwarded
to President Wilson. No formal com.
ment was made at the White House
but on every hand there was evidence
of qualification that the submarine
crisis had passed and that German.
had acknowledged the justice of tn.
principles for which President vii
son has been contending.
DECIDED ON BEFORE.
Announcement that the German
policy had been decided upon beforl
fthe sinking of the Arabic agrees per
fectly with information upon whicl
American officials had been depend
ing. Soon after the last Lusitani
note was sent President Wilson un
derstood there would not be anothe
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 q British patrol boat, the exac
circumstances may never be determ
med other than by testimony fror
British and American sources.
The German government statemer
that before the sinking of the Arab
her submarine commanders had bee
ordered to sink no more passenge
ships without warning may be take
as a disavowal of that act.
QUESTION OF PREPARATION
The question of reparation for II
Americans who lost their lives 9
the Lusitania, the Arabic and othe
ships which have been torpedoe
probably will be the next step in Il
proceeding. Secretary Lansing h
steadfastly refused to discuss Il
I.usitania case with the German an
bassador until the Arabic incideI
kas disposed Of. Now, it is believe
the way has been opened for consi'
ey'~r The Iusitania
Apparently the American gover1
mei-- mas accepted the German decl
ration as meeting its attitude towal
the treatment of all neutral shippir
Continued on Page Eight.)