Evening star., 1915-06-13
Berlin REjOICES
At FRIENDLY NOTE
Newspapers Declare Basis for
Honorable Settlement Is
Found in Rejoinder.
KAISER is EXPECTED
TO SPEAK LAST WORD
Conference Begun to Draw Up Reply.
Will Await Arrival of
Meyer Gerhard.

ANVIL 0C1A u.
BERLIN. June IL. via London. June
IL, l2:'S a.m.--The text OF the Ameri-
can note was published today in tho
Berelin afternoon newspapers. Definite
statements as to the attitude of the
German government with respect TO
the note are not vet available but in
circles which. while themselves not Of
hcially responsible. are often good
barometers of the sentiment in respon-
sible quarters. the note seems to have
made distinctly favorable impression,
and Is believed to offer the possibility
or negotiations on which a satisfactory
settlement might be reached
The conciliatory tone of the note an
parentiy mas evoked Il responsive atti-
tude here. individuals who in the
carrier stages of the negotiations dis
plaEed stlf-necked adherence to their
own views. which male discussion al
most impossible. are now willing to
talk or compromises in which the com.
promise would not be all on one side.
Kaiser to Speak Last Word.
The official viewpoint probably can
be correctly appraised only after con-
ferences of the imperial chancellor. DR.
Won. Bethmann- HoIlweg; the foreign
secretary. Herr Won Jagow. and repre-
sentatives of the army and admiralty.
the naval and general staff. The en-
peror, 1t is believed, will speak tha
final word
1T is understood that these confer
ences Will begin immediately The an
swer VIII certainly not be drafted. and
10
ably will not be definitely decided
upon. before DR.. Anton Meyer-Gerhard.
me special envoy from Count Won
bernstorn, the German ambassador at
report.
Both the Lokal Anzeiger and the
vosslsche Zeitung hail the second
american note as opening the way for
turner negotiations between Germany
and the United States, which both pro.
Tess to believe will straighten out the
situation. These papers admit that the
note contains little that Is new. but
they rejoice at its friendly tone.
No Difference of Opinion.
The Vossische Zeitung says: There
Is no difference of opinion about the
desirability of saving lives. The note
opens the way for negotiations be-
tween Germany and America regarding
what Germany can do and what Ameri-
ca must do to protect life in the fu-
ture"
The Lokal Anzeiger says:
From the wording of the note, as
1t is now published. one sees that the
the enemy that the note would be an
ultimatum-nothing else was to be ex-
pected-were wholly baseless. The
form is friendly and it contains no as
III ho1 MI
new note is really a roundabou ex-
preston by President Wilson of his
original standpoint, and II will be a
matter of further negotiations. during
which the German arguments will be
repeated and their justification proved.
1T would be premature to go into
details, especially of technical ma
ture. now; it is enough to be satisfied
that the Wilson note is so constructed
as to admit the possibility of addition
al negotiations He himself shows a
desire for such negotiations. He sug
gests that the German government pro-
duce further proofs substantiating the
claims regarding the Lustania, and
declares himself ready to act as an
Intermediary between Germany and
Great Britain regarding mutual con-
cessions so far as submarine warfare
is concerned.
True. this offer would have been of
considerable more value II the fresi-
to make such preparations, whereas he
intimated that Germany and Great
Britain should initiate the question.
However that may be. the United
States will see from further negotia-
tlons that Germany has an honora BILE
desire to treat a friendly suggestion
in friendly spirit.
Not an Enemy.
AT all events. the situation crea ted
by the publication of the note is such
that the hypothesis heralded through
out the world that America also was
in the ranks of our enemies is now
shown to be once more the old case Of
the wish is father to the thought"
Capt. Persius. the naval expert of the
Tageblatt. writes:
"A harmonizing of views is posi-
BILE, and the Washington government
an understanding. That is the keynote
of the American note: there is no
sab ber rafting.
Capt Persius assumes that the German
answer will remove the last obstacle in
the way of eliminating all differences. As
he understands the American note, 1t by
no means takes the view that the Ger
man admiralty must order a suspension
of submarine warfare before negotiations
can proceed. He regrets that the United
States has failed duly to appreciate
Germany's previous offer to place restric-
tions upon the activity Of the submarine
provided the British abandon their ef
forts to starve Germany" and he adds
that it is certain that no satisfactory
solution is possible unless Great Britain
makes this concession. as Great Britain
was the first to break the international
law
He concludes We have firm confidence
that the friendly relations between Ger
many and the United States will
smooth the way to a complete under
standing and thus give victory to Justice
and humanity.