The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-09-16
SEES CLOUDS IN
LINER DISPUTES
Wilson Tells Delegation He Can't
Quit Capital.
BERNSTORFF SEES LANSING
Ambassador and Secretary Refuse to
Discuss Conference-Berin Says
That Attack on the Orduna
Was Mistake.

Washington, Sept. l4.--Presldent
Wilson expressed his view OF the
gravity of the international situation
which confronts the United States to
a delegation of Virginians, who asked
him to visit the Manassas battlefield
late this month. He told them:
.pVe are all hoping and praying that
the skies may clear, but we have no
control of that on this side OF the
water, and 1t is impossible to predict
any part of the course of affairs"
Promised to Dedicate Tablet.
The president was reminded that
some time ago he had promised TO go
to Manassas to dedicate tablet. He
said:
when ! made that promise things
were Just beginning, and great many
things have happened since which
have altered not only the aspect of our
own affairs, but the aspect of affairs of
the world. My experience here day by
day is that questions turn up so sud
denly and have to be handled so
promptly and sometimes with so much
thoughtful discretion that really dare
not let my thoughts 90 out to other
matters.
Il could not come to Manassas with
out having something to say. 1t would
not be worthy Of the occasion if | did
not make preparations that would be
worth while, and that is out of the
question,
Thoughts Are Mortsaged.
Il simply feel that | have forfeited
my liberty for the present, and that
my nearest duty is the most obvious
and imperative duty. | have been
obliged to say this to W invitations
however tempting in character, and
would not be worthy Of your trust If
did not come to such a conclusion
because ! know that you want these
international matters taken care of as
best we know how, and | ought not to
send my thoughts afeld.7
Bernstorff Sees Lansing.
The first of a series of important
conferences between Count Bernstorff,
the German ambassador, and Secre-
tary of State Lansing took place at
the state department. The purpose of
the conference is to reach an amicable
and definite understanding on the
pending issues between the two gov
ornments.
The German ambassador has been
given authority by his government to
take up every point with Secretary
Lansing. Each step will be submitted
Secretary Lansing will be in constant
touch with the president,
In this way. 1t is believed, a full
agreement can be reached regarding
the rights of the Americans on the
high seas and the application of inter
national law to submarine warfare,
much more quickly than by the meth
cd heretofore pursued, namely, the
exchange OF foreign notes.
Secretary Lansing declined to dis
cuss the conference. Ambassador
Won Bernstorlf was plainly well pleased
with the turn affairs have taken.
Germany to DisavoW.
The impression exists everywhere,
nevertheless, that this government
will ultimately agree to arbitrate
questions of fact in cases which do not
involve any contrayention of the prin-
ciples insisted on by the president
While the discussion between Ambas.
sador Won BernstoriT and Secretary
Lansing was in progress the state de-
partment received the report of the
German admiralty on the attack by a
German submarine on the Cunard
liner Orduna, July 9. The text of the
German explanation has not been
made public, but the admiralty admits
that the submarine commander did
not follow instp'tions.
1t is stated in the explanation that
his instructions were not to attack
without warning, but that he under
took to attack nevertheless because
he was unable to identity the Orduna,
the weather being hazy.
state department officials expect
that there will be a disavowal by Ger
many Of the attack The explanation
already given Is regarded by some of.
hcials as equivalent to a disayowal.