The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-16
GETS NOTE
AND KEEPS 1T SECRET
,Cont,nueu from page


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tain policy, Germany, however, 1t is
admitted in official quarters would be
we'll within her rights in suggesting
arbitration at this time-that is IT she
agrees that, pending arbitration, she
will respect American lives, whether
on American or any other natlon's
ships. si@
iahe provision that Germany can
cite as the precedent is the one in the
general treaty, OF which the following
extract from the Russian agreement
is an example: t
"Any differences arising between
the government of the United States
of America and the imperial govern
ment of Russia, of whatever nature
they may be, shall, when diplomatic
proceedings have failed, be submitted
for examination and report to per
manent International commission, con-
stituted in the manner prescribed III
the following article; likewise the
high contracting parties agree not TO
resort with respect to each other, TO
any acts of force during the examina-
ton to be made by the commission
and before its report is handed in"
Article two provides that the COM /.
mission shall be made of two members
designated by each nation and a {
third to be president of the court, TO !
be mutually agreed on-a member be- /
longing to neither nationality already /
represented.
The original plan provides that a !
year can be utilized in hearing and
deciding the questions involved, but
there is no prohibition % a mutual
agreement expediting matters. Be- I
cause the United States is so fully I,
pledged to this principle it was gen.
orally agreed here tonight that If Ger
many will meet Americas essential .
demand-stoppage of German subma-
rine warfare-the United States will
be in honor bound to agree to arbi-
trate all questions raised in the Viii !
son note.
1t is accepted here that Germany is !
already willing to apologize and pay |
indemnity for sinking of the Guiflight !
and the attack on the Gushing. There I;
is no attempt to excuse those acts in !
official German circles. In the Lust !
tania and Falaba incidents where !
Americans were slain while passen- /
gers on beligerent ships, it was the
thought that the fatherland may have
case for arbitration and officials
frankly hope the kaiser will be anx-
ious to have them passed on in the !
open and. to that end would be ready /.
to suspend attacks on merchant YES !
sells.
At the German embassy officials !
were silent. They said the contro- I
versy was one for settlement by Ber- /
lin
Reports that DR.. Dernburg, German /
envoy, was to leave the United States /
voluntarily as sop to American .
feelings, was heard with interest. but (
comment was withheld we know
nothing about the report it was
stated. Dr. Dernburg himself re-
fused information. The embassy was
hopeful for the re-establishm of
friendly relations between the United
States and Germany 1t frankly !
stated that Germany wanted to retain
this friendship 1t was pointed out
also that there had been stTictness IN /
dealing with Germany and a tone !
used that has been noticeabIy absent
in spondence with England
which by the way, it was remarked /
has, not yet replied TO the American t.
protest against the order-fn-council /
being a blockade against neutral traf- :
fic with Germany. If Germany gees
the limit 10 piacate the united states
in the present case, Germans in off, /
cial life say she will be well within 4
her rights if she asks, in the most .
friendly manner, that the United
States compel Great Britain to accept
the position that Germany accepts. /
and therefore American vessels have .
the right to so where they will be I'M /
molested and without being subjected |
to unnecessary risk. If the principle !
is right for the individual, the Ger |
man suggestion is it must be all right |
also for American property so long as /
no attempt is made to carry contra |
band Of war
1t was stated here that it is not ex-
pected the German reply will reach /,
here before the end of next week J
There will be no change in the admin /,
istrat tons policy in the meantime
President Wilson was on his way