Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-23
TONE OF F|NAL|TY
IN NOTE TO BERLIN
Kaiser to Be Told That Further
Diplomatic Parleying
Is Useless.
1T WILL CLOSE ARGUMENT
What Will Happen Then Is
Fraught With Grave
Possibilities.
IT WILL CLOSE ARGUMENT

WASHINGTON. August o2-The
United States Will act promptly and
decisively as soon as all the facts In
connection with the destruction OF the
White Star liner Arabic by German
submarine have been received.
There is Il well-grounded impression
In official quarters tonight that tho
Arabic case is not TO be followed by
discursivc, diplomatic correspondence
The German government Is to be given
an opportunity to offer an explanation
OF what now. appears to be another
violation of international law, but the
administration is expected to draft a
brief note on the uselessness of ex-
tended diplomatic parleying, and ask
ing definitely that Germany give tho
assurances which this government has
been trying for months TO obtain The
note is expected to be a missive of less
than 500 words. with a tone of rnality.
BREAK IN RELATIONS
AT LEAST POSSIBILITY
The opinion in official circles is that a
break in the relations between the two
countries is at least a possibility The
view is that the note must be n plain,
unequivocal statement by this govern
mcnt that II cannot excuse or Justify
such an attack as was made on the
Arabic, on which Americans were trav-
cling.
1t is expected the note will point out
briefly that German submarines are
fast vessels, equipped with guns, and
that events of the past few months
have demonstrated they nre able to OBJ
serve the recognized practices Of war
fare in dealing with suspected mer-
chantmcn.
| a la1
submarines should have little fear of
attack from any vessel approached,
and their speed and submersible pow
ers afford them minimum of danger
from attack by slower cruisers gum
boats or patrol vessels.
PREPARED TO CLOSE
ARGUMENT ON DEMAND
With this broad premise the United
| States is prepared to close the argu-
ment regarding Its demand that sub
marines shall warn before attacking
liners upon which there are Americans
1t is believed the administration will
ask for the last time whether 1t is the
intention of the German government to
cipie OF visit and search.
Failure of Germany to give such as
surances at this critical stage will be
fraught with grave possibilities, affect
Ing the diplomatic relations of the two
governments. 1t is taken for granted
IN oficial quarters the American rep
reservations to Germany will have the
tenor or fnality, rejecting the impa-
thence or this government that since the
sinking OF the Lusitania, nearly four
months ago, diplamatic correspondence
and controversy has not been fruitful,
of an understanding between the two
nations.
Questions yet to be answered before
this government finally shapes its
course are:
Was the Arabic conveyed when at
tackled. or had she been conveyed pre-
viously?
Was she attempting to escape. which
might be assumed from the Covington
affidavit that she suddenly changed her
course?
Was the Arabic ell route to the
stricken Dunsley. previously torpedoed
in the same vicinity?
Was she attempting TO run down and
ram the submarine?
PRACTICALLY ESTABLISHED
THERE WAS NO WARNING
1t has been established to the prac-
tical satisfaction of officials that the
Arabic was not warned and with the
clearing up of the other questions. the
administration Will be ready to take
such steps as may be necessary
There were practically no develop
ments here to-day touching the Arabic
disaster. a Sunday of inactivity was
spent by officials who, however, con-
tinued gravely to consider the latest
crisis between the two governments,
President Wilson took long auto
mobile ride and held no conferences
with his advisers The President is
wont to consider problems of state on
these lonely Journeys in the White
House car. Secretary Lansing did not
visit the department and said tonight
no further dispatches had been re-
ceived from London or Queenstown
The secretary said he had not re-
ceived the long report which London
news dispatches said was sent by Am
bassador Page. Mr.. Lansing said he
expected a full report from the am
bassador, but it had not arrived
1t is probable the Arabic situation
will he considered at a meeting Of the
Cabinet Oh Tuesday in the event the
administration shall have received by
that date sufficient information to
justify a determination Of it's course