Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
MAY SEEK BERLIN
REPORT ON ARABIC
Ambassador Gerard Likely to
Ask for Explanation of
Attack.
COUNTRY NOT AROUSED
AS OVER LUSITANIA
Only a Few kilograms Reach the
White House Offering Advice
to the President.

|
| With the toll Of missing American.
as the result of the torpedoing of the
Arabic remaining today at two. as an.
nounced yesterday. Notwithstanding
conflicting reports giving a larger mum
| Der, and with continuance Of silence
on important details from United States
officials abroad, what is regarded at
an interesting fact in the case is that
| President Wilson has received compar-
/ atively few kilograms and letters on
| the subject from the people throughout
| the country.
1t was ascertained today that not
been received at the White House with
| contended. that the country is not now
| aroused. as 1t was at the time of the
Lusitania disaster
May Ask Berlin Version.
This, and statement made today by
Secretary Lansing at the State Depart
ment that Ambassador Gerard at Ber-
lin may be asked to call the German
governments attention to the sinking
Of the Arabic and to invite an explana-
tion. constituted the only news con-
cerning the tragedy which has devel-
oped since noon yesterday.
At the same time. 1t Is pointed out in
Washington today that the veil Of CEN
sorship which has been drawn by the
British government over news dis
patches concerning the sinking Of the
Arabic would seem to indicate that
there were happenings in connection
with the sinking Of the ship which 1t
is not to the advantage Of the British
cause to have published. These. 1t is
deemed possible. were Of such a nature
as to afford some excuses for the Ger
man attack on the Arabic. Otherwise,
1t is not understood in Washington why
the British censors have not allowed
full details to come through in news
dispatches.
Scarcity Of kilograms.
The fact that the white House II not
being deluged at this time with tele-
grams and letters in regard to. the
Arabic is deemed significant as show
ing the attitude of the people Of the
United states, for the reason that ore
Of the prerogatives and habits of the
American citizen il that when any big
thing comes before the country he
promptly sits down and writes or wires
he thinks about it. Through this me
dunn the President is often able to
gauge public opinion very wei. Fol-
lowing the Lusitania disaster teie-
grams and letters by the hundreds
rolled into the executive Offices. were
promptly indexed and laid on the desk
of Mr.. Wilson.
The eight or ten messages received
hi
resent different shades OF public opin-
ion, some radical and some conserva-
tive, about equally divided. One OF the
interpretations placed on this scarcity
of voluntary views from people OF tne
country is that the people are willing
to leave the situation to the President
himself and do not wish to embarrass
him. feeling secure In the knowledge
that he will wait and obtain all the
facts and do the right thing: The
President himself devoted the day to
consideration Of the whole subject and
to general business. Because OF the
rain he did not golf or go automobiling.
President Studying Problem.
While waiting for further reports the
President is making up his mind what
the country is to do. He had not until
1890 O'Clock today personally seen Mr..
Lansing, the Secretary OF State. since
before the Arabic was sunk. today's
meeting having occurred when the Sec
retary brought the Brazilian minister to
Mexico, who is in Washington on
Mexican afYairs, to call There was not
opportunity for the taking up of the
| Arabic matter. Whatever communica-
tions there have been between the Sec
| retary and the President. 1t Is said.
have been by telephone.
| The statement by Mr.. Lansing that
Anba ssador Gerard at Berlin may be
! asked to inquire as to the Arabic Is
the f1rst indication from any off1cial
source that Germany would have an
| opportunity to give the reasons for the
attack on the Arabic, apparently in dis
regard of President Wilson's solemn
/ warning that such an act would be re-
garded as deliberately unfriendly."
TO Hear Both Sides.
| The state Departments attitude is
that II the German government has
any facts which. in its opinion. go to
mitigate the circumstances of the at
| tack, such as an attempt by the Arabic
to escape, or an attempt to resist. or to
attack the submarine, the Berlin for
eisn once should have an opportunity
| to present them.
| What has so far come has come from
British sources, and 1t may be accepted
a. definite that there will be opportu-
nifty for both sides to be presented.
| Today's announcement also indicates
that before President Wilson takes any
/ action there may be some exchange OF
| diplomatic communications. 1t Is un-
| derstood that the State Department.
| policy is to show the utmost delibera-
ton consistent with the delieacy Of the
questions involved, and to omit no op-
portunity of avoiding q severance OF
diplomatic relations with Germany &c
long as there is a reasonable expecta