The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-27
German Ambassador As
sures Lansing That Kaiser
Has Accepted American
View on Sea War Zone
GERMANY ADOPTS
POLICY TO SETTLE
THE CONTROVERSY
German American Crisis
Has Now Passed, Is Be
lief Of Officials, and Ten
sion Is Relaxed
AMBASSADOR BERNSTORFF

Washington, August 26.-Two i'm
portant developments today in the re-
lations between the United States and
Germany further reduced the tensity
Of the situation and were taken to
forcshadow declaration from Berlin
on the subject of submarine warfare
which would eliminate a source of
discord between the two countries.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, called on Secretary Lans-
ing and informed him that the state
n,ent presented Tuesday by direction OF
the Berlin foreign office saying there
was no intent to cause loss of American
lives when the White Star liner Arabic
was destroyed was intended to imply
that German submarine commanders
had been ordered to attack no more
merchantmen without warning.
Ambassador Gerard. reporting from
Berlin the substance of a conference
with Foreign Minister Won Jagow, con-
firmed Associated Press dispatches
that Germany, even before the sinking
of the Arabic, had adopted a policy
designed to settle completely the whole
submarine problem.
The state department did not make
fpublic Ambassador Gerard's dispatch
but the optimism Immediately reflect
ed at the state department and the
White House was taken as convincing
proof that the situation once threat
ening a break in the friendly rela- :
tions between the two countries was
on the way to settlement
Crisis Passed
The more hopefdI ofacfafs thotgnt
the crisis passed and inferred that the
views which Ambassador Won Berns-
torff had been urging upon Berlin ever
since the sinking OF the Lusitania had
Prevailed with the support OF the lib
erals in Germany who have been op-
posing the anti-American policy of the
conservatives. Secretary Lansing, while
outward1y encouraged, was reserved,
awaiting some definite declaration
from Berlin. and the same attitude was
reflected at the White House, where II
was indicated that President Wilson,
encouraged at the prospect of avert
ing a break, still was keeping his mind
open until all the details are cleared
UP.
One fact was outstanding in the
whole situation. 1t was that a further
communication Is coming from Ger
maly outlining a policy which, 1t is
said Is expected to be satisfactory to
the United States 1t is understood
that Germany will announce a suspeu-
sion of her submarine warfare on pas
senger carrying ships and that sub
marine commanders will be instructed
not to sink any merchantmen without
warning pending a diplomatic discus
sion Of proposal for a modus vivendi
sfor relaxation of the British blockade
against neutral commerce..
From such information as had
reached sources here It was appartnet
that the sinking OF fhe Arabic--as-
suming that the ship was sunk by a
submarine-was as much Of a surprise
in Germany as 1t was to the rest Of
the world. for although 1t has not yet
been officially stated. 1t Is believed that
German submarine commanders after
the sinking OF the Lusitania received
instructions to avoid another such dis
aster.
Change in View
It was suggested today in diplomatic
quarters that while Germany had
avoided making a public announcement
of that fact, she now was In a posi-
tion to do SO. because of the victories
of the German arms in Poland. The
same sources pointed out that the vic
tories of the German armies aided the
liberal forces in Germany which have
been contending for the views which
Count Won Bernstorff has been urging
on his foreign office.
The Berlin news dispatches referring
70 the German chancellor's declaration
that Germany had adopted policy de-
signed to settle the question puzzled
American officials and even those in
German quarters. 1t WAS suggested In
one source that II might foreshadow
diplomatic negotiations to be under
tCsntinusa - Pass TwsI