Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-14
Not an Issue in Case, 1t
Is Declared on Highest
Authority.
SAY NOTHING SHORT OF
DISAVOWAL IS EXPECTED
BernstOrff Awaits Word From
Berlin-Discuss British Acc
ceptance of German Terms.

WASHINGTON, Sept 14-Reports
that President Wilson was favorably
considering arbitration of Americau
lives lost on the Arabic was denied
today in high administration circles.
The arbitration question is not at
issue and was not discussed at Nom
days conference between Secretary
Lansing and Ambassador Banstorn.
1t was stated on the highest authority.
Nothing short of a disavowal of the
submarine commanders act will sat-
isfy the American government, II was
said.
This was made clear to the German
ambassador and pending a reply from
his government no phase of the in
ternational situation will be discussed
with him. it was learned A reply
from Berlin Is expected within four
or five days.
Administration officials feeling that
affairs are now at a critical stage and
everything will depend on Germany's
reply to the message cabled by AM
bassador Bernstorff after his confer
ence with Secretary Lansing
The principle difficulty was over
the German warning that u boat
commanders would be upheld by
their admiralty, SO long as British
merchant captains were under
orders to ram undersea craft ION
sight" in resorting to the use of tor
pedoes at the first suspicion that
their submarines were about to be
attacked.
ssNfisfaLass tn rnnfinua1
This meant, it was pointed out.
| resulted in the Arabics destruction,
were sure to continue, with their
incidental danger to Americans
The result was declared bound to
be an indefinite continuation OF a
/ hair trigger situationo between
! Washington and Berlin unless an
| agreement could be reached between
the American. the German, and. APP
| parently as matter of necessity,
| the British governments.
Prospects today were that Great
| Britain may be drawn into a three
cornered, although informal, discuss
sion of Germany's submarine war
fare as q. result of the Arabic incl
dent.
The question before the administra-
tion was:
DS d5fCu, dS SuEk65l~
ed by Ambassador Won Bernstorff
to order captains of British liners
not to attempt attacks on German
submarines?
There seemed little prospect that
such course would be adopted. ex.
cept most informally, through Ann
bassador Page or British Ambassador
Spring Rice. 1t is known, however.
that Bernstorff's suggestion is being
sAt.fr. cd izxr ~ .fr.k
tion heads.
Theoretically, the administration
idea is to deal with Germany alone
regarding the latter's own operations
of undersea craft-the United States
will not trade a German conces-
sion in any deal with England 1t
was thought possible. however, that
Bernstorff's suggestion that other
mistakes" like the Arabic could be
her orders to passenger liners to ram
submarines might be feasible.
Two considerations were involved
First, the plan would mean further
protection for Americans travelling on
British liners.
Second. England could thus secure
absolute immunity for her passenger
carrying ships
note to Berlin is being drafted.
according to reliable reports, accept
ing qermanys offer to arbitrate the
question of whether her submarine
commander was justified In believing
the Arabic intended to attack him.
Further evidence regarding the at
tack on the liner Hesperian was
being obtained by the state depart
ment. This incident may become the
subject of separate negotiations with
Berlin, but the present disposition of
the administration Is to await fur
ther details. United States naval and
diplomatic agents in England were
preparing reports upon whether a
mine or submarine sank the Hespe-
rian. That the evidence is not COM
elusive that torpedo was used Is
the present official view.