The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-03
Count Bernstorff Delivers Note in Person to Lansing. German Ambassador Is Most Optimistic
LANSING SILENT ON
 ACCEPTABILITY OF
 GERMAN VIEWPOINT
Secretary of State Awaits Interview With Wilson Before Announcing Atti- tude U s. Will Take

New York. October 2.-Danger of an i'm mediate break between the United States and Germany over the torpedong of ths Arabic, with a loss or. two American lives, has been averted by the assurances contained in a note received personally here today by Secretary Lansing from Count Won Bernstorff. the German ambas. sador. tx Neither the secretary nor the German ambassador would make any statement but the latter was optimistic and believed the new note would completely solve the situation. Mir. Lansing expressed no opin- ion, preferrng to consult President Will son in Washington Monday, but 1t was ev- ident that he did not share the ambas- sadors optimism, though inclined to re- gard the new note as offering for the present a negotiable basis.
 The ambassador was with MT Lansing only few minutes during which the lat |ter did not express any view on the note, assuring Count Von Bernstorff he would notify him of the time for the next con Terence after he had studied the com munication.
 Nothing Definite
 There was nothing to indicate that the new German note met entirely the view as ths American government made it clear to Count von Bernstorff informally that disavowal of. the sinking of the Arabic was absolutely necessary before there cculd be any further negotiation or arbi. kration of the amount of indemnity, the general Inference was rriat the Berlin soreign office had taken the view that the German submarine commander must have kri ed in assuming that the Arabic was Intent on a hostile act when going to the Fsscue of the British steamer Sunsley. ! IL was pointed out as significant in Herman quarters that when the German government sent it's first note on the Arabic offering to arbitrate the questions be fact in the case, the evidence collected |py the American government was not be- koro 1t. Since that time the data care Fully obtained by the United States and neld by the Washington government to be Absolutely conclusive that the Arabic Yaf bot attempting to ram the German sub marine has been placed before the Berlin
 
 May Want Arbitration
 The prevalent view tonight was that Ser many had admitted the error of her Pubmarine commander, but wished to hrbitrate the extent to which Germany was liable under the circumstances for ! mistake. Whether this would be satls- Factory has never been indicated by Washington officials, though it had been made plain that the principles involved Would not be made the subject of dis pussion in an arbitral tribunal.
 Count von Bernstorff at his hotel ap- peared very much pleased with the con tents of the new note, which probably kill be published in a day or two. He Hhnnotnced that he expected to return tc oMashington with his embassy staff al Nthe end of this month.
 Ill Although 1t had been reported that Sec Ifetary Lansing would discuss with the 0Eerman ambassador the case of Captain kon Papen, the German military attacne lt was learned authoritatively that tn. kLbject was not mentioned. Secretary snsing has not yet had an opportunity GIo xemine the documents carried by ames F. J. Archibald, in which were let. IIers from Captain Von Papen.