The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-01

whether the vessels owners violated American law by taking passengers on ships carrying munitions of war-it was said would be answered with the state ment that an official investigation showed the ship carried no guns, either mounted or unmounted. and that it is not viola tion of federal statutes to carry small arms and ammunition on pdssenger ships. Reiterating that the Lusitania, therefore was a peaceful merchantmen entitled to the right of visit and search and the transfer of her passengers and crew to places of safety previous to any attemnt to destroy any contraband of war aboard Ter in accordance with prize law. It is believed the United States win insist upon dsavowal of such acts. and guarantee that German submarine war fare would be conducted in the future along humane lines assuring Americans ot the safety of their lives and their ships on the high seas.
 Ship Was Unarmed
 Proposals the part of Germany to protract the argument with affidavlts al legged to be in the possession of the Ger man embassy here to prove that the Lusi- tania carried guns will not be considered in view of official knowledge here that the ship was unarmed. Moreover, the government will point out that during the present discussion the American steamer Nebraskan has been torpedoed by Ger man submarine.
 The admission of the German admiralty announced today in a report from Am bassador Gerard, that the commander of the submarine which torpedoed the Gulf light did mot notice the American flag On the Gulflight until after he had fired the torpedo is another circumstance to which it was thought probable the United States would point as proof of dangers to which American vessels are subjected by the reckless methods of German sub marine commanders.
 The conference between the President and Count Bernstorff Wednesday was tho subject of much comment tonight. The amba ssador himself would not say what his purpose was. but from well-informed sources it was learned that he asked fo. the interview of his own initiative with out instructions from his government and that he wishes to impress the President with his desire to do everything possible to avoid a rupture.
 The amba ssador has had much difficulty in communication with his foreign office as the cables are in possession of the allies. Some of his friends state that his efforts to induce the German government to send a concilatory answer to the
  count.
 There was distinct disappointment manifest at both the Austrian and Ger man embassies here at the character of the German reply Both ambassadors were understood to have endeavored ta obtain response that would satisfy the United States There was some intima ton that the American note of May 1S might have been interpreted in Berlin as meaning a demand for the cessation of all submarine warfare against enemy ships instead of a suggestion for tn. modification of submarine activity so that noncombtants and neutrals would not be endangered The attitude of the German foreign office, it also was hinted, might have been due to the domination of thu German admiralty and war staffs, be. cause diplomats are not as powerful now as in times of peace.
 Another suggestion made by we'll informed diplomats was that the German government had become con- vnced of fixed purpose of the United States to remain at peace in any even tuality. and that this impression had followed from the Washington govern me nts passive attitude toward Mexico. There was report current in diplo- matic circles tonight that the ambassa- dor wished to elicit from the President a definite idea of what he would like to nave the Gernlan government uO, end that Count Von Bernstorff, more- over. might seek to learn what the posi- tion of the United States would be with reference to foodstuffs and shipments of conditional contraband embargoed by the allies if Germany acquiescel in the views of the United States. It was predicted, too. that he probably would seek to impress upon the President the opportunity now presented for the Uni ted States to secure adherence to | international law by the allies as we'll as Germany and thereby by gradual stages point the way to general peace Count Von Vernstorff is known to have told friends that through an agreement on the freedom of the seas, one of the foundation stones for the restoration of peace in Europe would be laid.
 Would Continue Negotiations From all quarters familiar with the German point of view here, the desire of Germany to continue the negotia- tions was apparent, the hope being that further exchanges would bring the two governments to closer understanding. In the event of a deadlock over fac Is in the Lusitania case, the suggestion of reference of the dispute to The Hague for arbitration has been men toned frequently in German circles, but that such a course would be unaecept- able to the United States has been ac- cepted by some of the advisers of Pres ident Wilson.
 lr the event of another unfavorable answer from Germany, the severance of diplomatic relations by the United States is regarded by many as the natural step. Beyond that officials and diplomats have indulged in little specu- ,ation so far.