The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-09
AMERICAN DEMANDS GRANTED
GERMANY DISAVOWS SINKING OF
ARABIC AND WILL PAWN.
DEMNITY FOR LOSS OF
LIVES.
Ambassador BcrnStOrff i'm Letter to
Secretary Lansing Explains Position
OF Imperial Government and Ac-
cedcs to Demands of United States
to Settle Case-Other Cases May
Also be Settled Soon.

Also ne Settled Soon.
Washington, Oct. 5.-Germany has
acceded to the American demands for
settlement of the Arabic case. The i'm
perial government, through it's ambas-
sadOr, Count Won Bernstorff, disavows
the sinking of the vessel, announces
that it has SO notified the submarine
commander who made the attack, ex-
presses regret for the loss of American
lives, and agrees to pay an indemnity
to the families of Americans lost
Official Washington was both graft
fled and relieved by the diplomatic VIC
tory. The communication delivered to
Secretary Lansing today by the am
bassador pursuant to general instruc-
tions from his government spread alb
solute confidence that there would be
no more submarine controversies be-
tween the United States and Germany,
for the document reveals that string
ent orders have been given to subma-
rine commanders to prevent a recur-
renee of such incidents as the Arabic.
Since this case embraces the prin-
ciples for which President Wilson con-
tended in his notes on the torpedoing
Of the Lusitania and Falaba, con-
cessiOns made by Germany to the
American viewpoint We're generally
regarded tonight as paving the way
for amicable settlement of all the
cases.
Count Won Bernstorff left here to-
night expressing the confident hope
that relations between Germany and
the United States would continue to
improve.
With settlem ant Of the Arabic con-
troversy the dispatch to Great Britain
Of the long delayed American note on
interference with trade is expected
within a few days.
1t was not until the German ambas-
sador submitted his letter at nearly 1
o'clock today that the change in the
relations between Germany and the
United States became definite. Secre-
tary Lansing carried it to the White
House and shortly afterward announc-
ed its text, which follows:
"My dear Mr.. Secretary: Prompted
by the desire to reach q satisfactory
agreement with regard to the Arabic
incident my government has given me
the following instructions:
The order issued by his majesty
the emperor to the commanders Of the
German submarines-of which I noti-
fled you on a previous occasion-has
been made so stringent that the recur-
renee of incidents similar to the Ara
ton.
According to the report Of Com
mander Schneider of the submarine
which sank the Arabic, and his af1i-
davit as well as those of his men.
Commander Schneider was convinced
that the Arabic intended to ram the
submarine.
On the other hand, the imperial
government does not doubt the good
faith of the affidavit of the British Of
ficers of the Arabic, according to
which the Arabic did not intend to
ram the submarine. The attack OF
the submarine was undertaken against
the instructions issued to the COM
mander. The imperial government re-
grets and disavCws this act and has
notified Commander Schneider ac-
cordingly.
Under these circumstances my
government is prepared to pay an in
demnity for American lives which, to
it's deep regret, have been lost on the
Arabic. l am authorized to negotiate
with you about the amount of this in
demnity.
I remain. my dear Mr.. Lansing,
Yours very sincerely,
"J. Won Bernstorff."
Secretary Lansing made no COM
ment on the ambassadors letter eX-
cept to remark that it spoke for it,
self. He was much pleased over the
conclusion of the case, because since