Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-11
ed as Germany's own slogan, and the
following sentence:

I 2 . - : 3 Z
ed as Germany's own slogan, and tn
following sentence:
''The Government of the Untet
States is happy to observe that you
Excellency's note closes with the IN
timation that the Imperial German
Government is willing, now as be
fore, to accept the good Offices of tht
United States in an attempt to cons
to an understanding with the Gov
ernment of Great Britain by which
the character and conditions Of the
war upon the sea may be changed.
These two expressions. in the opln
ion of diplomats of experience, are
fraught with greatest possibilities
for the future. In the most optimistic
quarters they are interpreted as the
first step on the part of the President
in the direction of reaching anun-
derstanding between the two princi-
pal belligerents which will ultimately
result in peace.
This theory is based on the under
standing that the United States is as
much interested as Germany is OBJ
tanning from Great Britain assuran-
ces of the freedom of the sea-" When
this general condition is brought
about, it is said, it will eliminate the
principal cause of the war between
Germany and Great Britain, and
peace is bound to follow.
The opinion is expressed also tnat
President Wilson had this in mind in
writing the note. 1t has been known
for some time that high officials OF
the State Department believe that
the peace negotiations, when they are
actually begun, will revolve almost
entirely around Germany's demand
for general agreement giving to
all nations the freedom of the sea for
their commerce, in war as well as IN
peace. 1t is understood the Presi-
dent has the same view.
Although the reference to the sub
iect in the note is specifically to an
understanding "by which the charac-
ter and conditions of the war upon
the sea" may be changed, the view
in diplomatic circles is that this is
as far as the President could go III
his first step. 1t is held as a gene
raj proposition in diplomatic inter-
course, according to the authorities,
that "the man who asks little in the
beginning gets much in the end, and
the man who ASKS much i'll the begln-
ming gets little in the end"
According to the best information
obtainable, the German reply to the
Presidents note will probably DC
along the following lines:
First-Germany will declare she
has no intention of attacking unarm-
ed passenger vessels.
Second THE declaration will be
made that an arrangement can pro-
bably be effected by which American
lives and American property can be
safeguarded, as,the United States de-
mands. The German suggestion is
expected to be that this Government
prohibit5the shipment of arms and am
munition on passenger vessels
Third-Germany will state that
she is more than willing to have the
United States negotiate in her be-
half with Great Britain tc change
the character and conditions of the
war upon. the sea-" In this connec-
ton Germany will probably recall
that at the outbreak of the war she
agreed to the suggestion of the Unit
ed States that the Declaration Of
London be observed, and she will re-
state her attitude on the subject, with
a probable suggestion that the Unit
ed States again ask Great Britain II
she will give the same agreement.
! Count Won Bernstorf, the German
Ambassador, declined last night to
comment on the note. The Ambas-
sador's manner, however, seemed to
Indicate that he was pleased with
the tone of the document.
Berlin (via The Hague), June II
Slight errors in cable, transmission
from Washington have delayed the
delivery of the second American note
regarding the torpedoing of the Lusl
tania.
Though the coded text reached M
American embassy late yesterday thu
German foreign Office this morning
is without official information of tn
) notes contents.
It is possible that Ambassado
Gerard may be forced to cable t