Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-06
Ambassador Gerard Called
to Conferences to Learn
Position of Wilson.
REPLY TO BE DELAYED
Notifications of Submarine
Warfare to Meet Ameri-
can Demands Certain.

Cornish, \. H. July president
Wilson today exchanged confidential
code messages with Secretary Lansing
in connection with the statement,
transmitted here by the state depart
ment, of Germany's informal outline
Of her position regarding submarine
warfare.
While absolute secrecy regarding the
situation was maintained 2t President
Wilson's summer home it was under
stood that the president was reluctant
to enter into any arrangement with
Germany which could be interpreted
as the surrender by the United States
Of its stand for the freedom of the
seas.
Washington. D. c.. July 6.-Secre-
tary Lansing stated today that a dis
patch had been received from Ambas-
sador Gerard, giving informally the
views of the German government on
submarine warfare, but this govern
ment had not replied
While declining TO discuss the con
tents of the dispatch, Mr. Lansing let
it be known that the proposals con
tanned in it were similar to those which
have already been discussed in Ber-
lin press dispatches indicating de-
sire to clarity the situation before
making formal answer.
40 Exchange of Views.
Mr.. Lansing stated that there had
been no exchange Of views yet and
that no negotiations had been entered
into by the American government. Mr..
Gerard's dispatch has been transmit
ted to President Wilson, where the de-
cision rests as to the character Of in
structions to be given the American
ambassador in answering the inquiries
of Berlin officials.
The effort of the German govern
ment to learn informally what pro-
posaIs would be acceptable to the
United States government, so that
when embodied finally in the German
reply they might be acceptable as
basis for negotiation, created the i'm
preston in official quarters that the
dispute between the two governments
would be amicably resolved.
1t is known that the aim of the Ger
man government is to insure the safe
ty Of Americans travelling on passen-
ger ships and at the same time main
tain the effectiveness of the submarine
as a destroyer Of ships primarily en-
gagged in contraband traff1c. The
United States has claimed the right
for its citizens to travel on both pas
senger and cargo ships, holding that
Americans who are members of the
crews Of the latter type of vessels
should be removed to a place of safety
before destruction,
Propose Joint Inspection.
Germany, it is understood, has pro-
posed a joint system of inspection,
which it shall be established
to the satisfaction of German consuls
in the United States that belligerent
ships sailing from American ports are
primarily engaged in passenger traf- !
hc. Details are lacking as to whether
Germany will consent to the carriage
OF any eontraband on such vessels or I
guaranty shall be given that |
the amount of contraband transported |
is of a negligible character.
AS for the treatment of cargo ships, |
officials are not clear as to how the |
American point OF view, as expressed |
in its recent notes, can be satisfied |
unless German submarines before at /
tacking undertake TO transfer the crew |
to a place of safety in accordance with /
the naval prize codes of all nations. /
New difficulties have arisen which now /
the situation. These are |
The cases Of the British liners Arme- /
nian and Anglo-CaIifornian. which /
cargo ships. by making repeated eff +
forts to escape. justified attacks by |
he German submarines.
Reply Delayed a Week.
Washington. July 6-The outlook for
/ favorable settlement OF the issue be-
ween the United States and Germany
over submarine warfare was today re
yarded as having advanced consider