Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-06-02
Four Send to State Depart ment Affidavits That Ship
 Carried Guns.
BERNSTORFF WANTS
 TO TALK COMPROMISE
Relieved German tmbaS Ssad0r Will Suggest Plan for Settlement of Con. trONrrSy Two Phases of Imsi-
 tAniM Affair Must Be Considered.

Washington, June The state de- partment has received four affi- idavits declaring that when the Lusi- tania sailed from New York on her last voyage, she was armed with four guns of good size"-tWo of them mounted forward, and the other two amounted in the stern. According to he affiGavits, they were mounted on an upper deck.
 Three of the affdavits are from persons who say they were told by passenger, just before the Lusi- tana sailed that he had seen ,he ! guns. The passenger was an Amer ican and according to the list of survivors, he was saved from thA Lusitania. The fourth affidavit is from a man who says that he also saw the guns.
 From a state department official, it was learned also that intimations have been received that these affi- davits would be followed by others. questioning the manifest of the Lusi- tania.
 Gun Cotton as "FMrs.'
 In the manifest of the Iustania appeared this item
 'Furs, 349 packages, valued at $119,220," consigned to Liverpool.
 It was said today that an affidavit would be submitted by passenger connected with the firm which made the shipment, that the packages con- tained gun cotton. Evidence is ex- pected also 10 show that the Lusi- tana's cargo contained acids used in the manufacture of explosives. It is not known just what these acids were but it was remarked today that Col lector Malone at New York has al- ready reported that there was no picric acid, used in the manufacture Of high explosives, on board the Lusitania.
 The state department does not ex- pect a charge that the Cunard steam ship company, owners of the Lusi- ltania, made false manifest and vio- lated the law in that regard. Accord ing to the statements of officials to- day, it is taken for granted that the steamship company was not re- sponsible, as it proceeds on the sworn statements of the shippers that the packages they ship actually contain the merchandise described by them.
 BernstOrff Has Peace Plan.
 Count von lBernstorff, the German ambassador, when he goes to see President wilson tomorrow. will, it is understood, make plea for an in- vestigation of the facts as requested in the German note. He will also seek to ascertain from the president just what the United States expects Germany to do if the investigation is not to be granted. and he will furthermore endeavor to learn the presidents idea of a basis on which 1 the controversy between these two nations can be settled.
 The motive of the German ambas- sador in calling on the president is known. It is in accordance with the sentiment expressed in the German ment says "it has the lively wish on it's part also to contribute in con- vincing and firm manner to clear up any misunderstanding which may have entered into the relations of the two governments through the events mentioned by the American govern ment."
 In this connection, significant remark was made today by an of- ficial who is in a position to know what is going on. He said:
 Ut may bel assumed, of course, that when it is desired to clear up misunderstanding, it is necessary first to know the basis on which it may be done."
 This remark lends itself to but one interpretation, namely. that the visit of the German ambassador to the white house is to be an informal and probably unofficial step toward a compromise.
 It is we'll understood that the Ger man ambassador has not been in formed by his government concern ing it's views on the matter, but it