New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-19
Won Bernstorff Envoy
COnferS with For.
eign Office
Eg-
HIS REPORTS
KEPT SECRET
But Officials Are Opti-
mistic After Hearing
His Story.
EXPECT COMPROMISE
Confident of Amicable Agree
ment with United States on
Submarine Warfare.


Gerhard, who is here with messages
from the German Embassy at Wash
ington bearing on the German-Ameri-
can situation, had a two hours confer
ence to-day with DR.. Alfred thinner
mann, Under Secretary Of Foreign Az
fairs, and Count Montgelas. head Of the
American section Of the Foreign Office.
Gottlieb Won Jagow, Minister Of For
eign Affairs, took part in the deliber-
ations.
The nature OF Dr. Meyer-Gerhard's
report has not been disclosed, but after
the conference DR.. Zimmerman ex-
pressed himself as thoroughly satisfied
with the prospects of an amicable set
tlemtnt of the German-American diff
culties.
Count Won Bernstorff's emissary
spent most of yesterday with the Sec
retary Of State for the Colonies, DR..
W. s. Solf, at the latter's country place,
following brief conversations with
Gottlieb Won Jagow, the Foreign Minis
ter, and Under Secretary Zimmerman.
That DR.. Meyer-Gerhard's first ex-
tended report on conditions in the
United States should have been made
to DR.. Solf is regarded as natural, in
view of the official position Of the
Colonial Secretary. There are other in
dications that DR.. Solf is taking an in
terest in the question Of German-Amer-
lean relations and may play part in
the deliberations over Germany's sec
ond answer on the Lusitania disaster.
OF the men in higher government po-
sitions DR.. Solf is one OF those most
familiar with life and conditions in the
United States. He has a good deal OF
the American in his manner of talk and
action. His influence on Germany's pol
icy, concerning which there are conflict
ing currents, may be expected 10 be IA
vorable to an understanding. IL is still
too early TO predict what form the
German note will take. Apparently an
endeavor will be made to open the way
to further discussions.
Peace Advocates Are Strong.
The newspaper war between advo-
Gates of q friendly settlement and the
mo compromise" representatives con-
tinues to rage. Naval writers in par
ticular urge that Germany cannot af-
ford to WELD an inca on the principles
and practice of submarine warfare, but
the very violence of their attacks on
the advocates of an understanding in
dcates that the latter are not without
influence.
The Cologne Gazette" points out
edtorially that the German press in
general has shown satisfaction that
President Wilson's communication Of
fers opportunity for an understanding,
and expresses the belief that diplomacy
on both sides of the Atlantic will work
with zeal to this end.
1T is quite certain the German gov
ernment, at least, will do this, an ! will
be generally supported therein by the
people" this newspaper continues. 1T
would be pure imbecility to seek TO
drag in without necessity a ninth or
tenth enemy for ourselves, even though
it, participation in the war should be
limited 70 supplying the Quadruple Al
lance with money and munitions.
I'VE say without necessity for rec
ognition of the fact that Germany Is
acting in self-defenee in using the tor
pedoes of its submarines against hos
tile merchantmen so long as England
maintains its business blockade against
US should, we believe, be & condition
which the United States should reeog-
nizr a, preliminary 20 negotiations"
.rsists on Undersea War.
In a leading article. entitled bad
Advice" the Cologne Gazette" takes
the "Lokal Anzeiger" TO task for at
tempting to palliate the British "starv-
ing out policy" and expectations from
America of war supplies. Conceding
that cutting of supplies is an accepted
method of warfare, II states that In
ternational law provides expressly that
this weapon may be used only IN the
form of an effective blockade. No ef-
fective blockade OF the German coasts
has been declared, however, and Ger
many therefore is deprived OF the pos
sibility Of taking action against
blockl ing ships.
On the expectation OF munitions from
the United States. the Gazette" adopts
the argument of Philip Zorn. German
member Of The Hague tribunals. that
although the convention adopted at
The Hague iustifes sales by private
firms, neutral state is bound 10 pro-
hibit such sales when the commerce in
arms assumes such an extent that con-
tinuation Of war is directly dependent
thereon.
Hit at Arms Shipments.
"That the German representatives (at
The Hague) voted in favor Of permis-
sion TO deliver arms is incontestable,"
the article continues. "but there is a
great difference between stamping
every sale Of arms by private firm in
a neutral state as a violation Of inter-
national law-this was what the Ger
man representatives objected to-and
arguing that 10 supply enormous guam
titles TO one group of belligerents alone
and TO devote practically the entire
available industry OF country there
TO. is eonsonant with the spirit OF true
neutrality"
Captain Won Kuehlwetter. the naval
expert OF the Tag" points out that
the American note passes over In
silence the German representations re-
gardng the British Admiralty's in
struetions TO merchantmen 10 sssk