Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-16
Won BernstOrff Is Furnished All
the Evidence of TOrpedOed
Liners Survivors AS to At
tack without Warning.
BERLIN WILL Be NOTIFIED
United States Asks for a Dis
avOwal of the Attack and Rep
aratiOn for American Lives
LOst-Reply Is Expected with
in Ten Days.
=

Washington, Sept. 13-Conferences to-
day between President Wilson and Secrc-
tary Lansing and between Secretary
Lansing and Count Won Bernstorf, tho
German ambassador. brought the situa-
ton growing out of German submarine
activities to the following status
% The German ambassador has been
furnished with the evidence Of officers
and survivors of the Arabic. all agreeing
that the liner was proceeding peacefully
when torpedoed without warning. and
has been advised that the United States
desires a disavowal Of the attack and
PREPARATION for the American lives lost
co The evidence will be sent by
Count Won Bernstorff to the Berlin
foreign office, to which it has not been
available before and probably ten days
will elapse before Berlin can be heard
from. In some quarters it is believed
possible that the foreign office upon
examining the evidence may change its
position and disavow the action of the
submarine commander, who 1t was
claimed in the last note sank the liner
because he thought she was about to
attack him.
go The United States has at hand
al information on the case it now
course, but action may be delayed un-
til Count Won Bernstorff has had time
TO exchange communications with his
government.
"a While the United States Will not
consent to arbitration Of a principle or of
q question involving the safety of Amer
ican lives il has accepted Gerrnanys as
eurances that peaceful liners will not be
torpedoed without warning, and if Ger
many desires to arbitrate the amount
of indemnity the question of whether the
Arabic actually attempted to attack the
submarine or whether her actions 1usu-
fed the submarine commander In believing
he was about to be attacked, that proba-
bly, would be agreed to.
1t was said in wel-informed circles to-
night that although the American gov
eminent was not pleased with the Arabic
note, the situation was considered far
from hopeless. The ambassador is under
understood to have wide latitude 10y his
foreign office in handling the negotiations
which his call on Secretary Lansing to-
day was intended to initiate. All the
changes from now on probably will come
through him, and it is generally believed
that settlement of the Arabic case will
mean prompt clearing mp of the entire
submarine question, including the ques-
ton of PREPARATION for Americans lost with
the Lusitania.
Berlin, Sept. 10, via London, Sept. IL
The American ambassador, Mr.. Gerar,..
had a long conversation last evening
with Herr Won Jagow, the German
minister of foreign affairs. The dis
cussion did not specifically concern the
II ltty1D ,.in cVn cd
by any new developments in connection
with that subject, but it was indicated
after the conference that both the i'm
pcrial chancellor and the foreign minister
are cndeavoiing to improve German
American relations.
Well informed personages in Berlin
express the belief that the diplomatic
and military leaders in Germany are
doing their utmost to prevent Il re-
Currenco Of Observation-Disclosures and In
Cidents in the submarine campaign which
have heretofore clouded those relations
and to eliminate as far as possible the
chances of torpcdong ships under condi-
tions to which the United States objects
1t is pointed ont, however, that they
are working under difficulties, partcu-
larly in view of the keenness and ambi-
ton Of the naval officers and public
opinion, which is proud of the submarine
achievements and is quick to protest
against any open indication Of back
down.
The reflex Of this attitude can be seer
In the press from which aCrimon-
| ious and abusive tone toward America
| of late has been conspicuously absent
This is shown particularly in the com
ment on the Dumha incident, almost all
the papers which comment ADMITTING
| frankly and without bitterness that the
United States is justified in the actor
II has taken, and pointing out that Il
need not affect Austro-Amcrican rela
tions, although at the same time, at
tempting to excuse DR., Dumba through
his patriotic interest in the Austro-IIun
garian workers.
Furthermore, little is heard upon thu
munitions question, and some of the com
ment is in friendly tone