The Republican journal., 1915-09-09
Germany Comes Down.
Win Sink NO More Passenger Ships With
out Warning.


Win Sink no More Passenger Ships With
out Warning. :,
WASHINGTON, Sept. l. German sub
marines will sink no more passenger
ships without warning and without the
safety of nom combatants on board being
provided for, if the steamers do not try
to escape or offer resistance.
Count Won Bernstorf, the German am
bassador, has SO notified Secretary of
State Lansing. Connecting on this Mr..
Lansing declared that the notification
appeared to be "a recognition of the
fundamental principles for which we
have contended."
The ambassadors letter to the Secre-
tary of State contained the information
that the new policy of Germany had been
decided on before the steamer Arabic
was sunk.
Official Washington is gratified with
the German announcement, as it is consid-
cred to end the crisis existing between
the United States and Germany through
the sinking by German submarines of
American vessels and belligerent vessels
on which American lives were lost.
After a conference at the State depart
ment, Ambassador Won Bernstorf sent
Secretary Lansing this letter.
my dear MIR. Secretary: With refer
ence to our conversation of this morning,
beg to inform you that my instructions
concerning our answer to your last Lusi-
tania note contained the following pass
age: Liners will not be sunk by our
submarines without warning and without
safety Of the lives of non-combatants,
provided that the liners do not try to es-
cape or offer resistance
although that know that you do
not wish to discuss the Lusitania case
until the Arabic incident has been defini-
tely and satisfactorily settled, | desire
to inform you of the above because this
policy Of my government was decided on
before the Arabic incident occurred.
81 have no objection to your making
any use you may please of the above in
formation.
Il remain my dear Mr.. Lansing,
Very sincerely yours,
y. BERNSTORFF.
In connection with the letter, Secre-
tary Lansing made the following state
ment:
I'm view Of the clearness of the fore
going statement, it seems needless to
make any comment in regard to it, other
than to say that it appears to be recog-
milton of the fundamental principle for
which we have contended."
Count Won Bernstorff's letter was for
warded to President Wilson as soon as it
was received at the State department.
No formal comment was made at the
White House, but on every hand in Off
cial quarters there were evidences Of
qualification that the submarine crisis
had passed, and that Germany had &C.
knowledged the justice of the principles
for which President Wilson had been
contending.
1t is generally acknowledged that, in
making concessions to the United States
Germany expects PresidentWllson to re-
new his representations to Great Britain
against interfering with neutral trade.
The President has steadfastly declined
to conduct one negotiation in / rela ton
to the other, taking the position that the
diplomatic negotiations of the United
States with one belligerent could not be
conditioned on its relations with another.
The next step, 1t is stated authorita-
lively, will be formal communication
from the German government disavow-
ing the destruction of the Arabic and
rendering regret and PREPARATION for
American lives lost in the disaster, if the
attack was made by German submar-
inc. Even if the submarine which tor.
pedoed the liner subsequently was sunk
by a British man-of-War, as has been
suggested both from Berlin and London,
the Berlin foreign office is expected to
send its disavowal as soon as ample time
has passed without report from its
commander.