The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-07
TO MEET i. S. Terms
BERLIN ADVICES MONDAY ARE
OPTIMISTIC FOR PEACE !.
MESSAGE NOT DIVULGDE
Ambassador Gerard Cables State De-
partment Indicating Favorable Re-
ly From Germany in Submarine
Trouble-Dispatch Not Published
But Officials are Optomistic.

A favorable reply by Germany to
the last American note on submarine
warfare is indicated in state depart
ment advices from Berlin received in
Washington Monday.
The advices came from AmbaSsa-
dor Gerard and were the first of
American note reached the German
foreign office.
The exact nature of the ambassa-
doris message was not divulged. His
dispatch was of sufficient detail, how
ever, to put officials in an optimistic
attitude. It was communicated at
once to President Wilson at the sum-
mer White House at Cornish.
Ambassador Gerard based his OBJ
servations on the favorable effect
which the visit Of Dr. Anton Meyer
Gerhard, emissary of Count Bern
storff, producted on Berlin officials.
DR.. Gerhard was understood by
Ambassador Gerard to have reported
that public opinion in the United
States had been growing more and
more favorable to Germany when the
sinking of the Lusitanic undid what
had been accomplished. Gerhard
made it clear also that the United
States did not want war, but wanted
a satisfactory reply to its representa-
tions.
German officials are eager, accord
ing to Ambassador Gerard's report,
to give such an answer, but at the
same time they have made it clear
that Germany can not make any con-
cessions which would destroy the eff
fectiveness of the submarine as an Of
fensive weapon.
It is understood Germany is try
ing to find some method by which
Americans travelling on ships primar:
lily used for passenger traffic shall be
safe while the submarine continues
to be used in. attacking beHigerent
freight ships carrying chiefly contra
band.
Just what proposal Germany viii
make to accomplish that object, Off
cials can not conjecture, but from the
fact that Germany seems to be will
ing to safeguard the rights Of Ameri-
cans who travel on ships Of any ma
tionality primarily engaged in pas
senger traffic, IN adherence to the
principles expressed in the American
note-the non-combatantS should be
immune from attack-would seem, in
| the opinions of officials in Washing
ton, to. be recognized.
No information has been received
| on what the attitude of Germany will
be toward assuming liability for loss
| Of American lives On the Lusitania,
but the feeling prevails that if sat
? 2isfactory arrangement can be made
as to the future Germany will sug-
gest a basis for a favorable adjust
ment of the Lusitania case as we'll
Berlin reports that the report of
Dr.. Anton Meyer-Gerhard, special
| representative of Ambassador Bern
storff, to the officials charged with
drafting the German answer to the
American second note with reference
to the Lusitania disaster and safety
Of neutrals on the high seas, indi-
Gated the seriousness of the situation.
DR.. Meyer-Gerhard reported the
sentiment Of the United States had,
prior to the Lusitania's sinking, been
growing somewhat more favorable
from the German viewpoint, and par
ticularly more favorable regarding
the prohibition Of the export of NUM-
tons of war to the allies.
The sinking Of the Lusitania, how
ever, undid all this. The state Of
feeling in the United States at the
present time, as DR.. Meyer-Gerhard
is reported to understand it, was such
that it would not be satisfied with un-
| necessary delay in forwarding the an
swer, nor with an answer which ap-
peared eYasive or failed to meet the
issue squarely.