Evening star., 1915-06-04
Given Safe Conduct.

Nne owners Of the steamer knew noth-
ing of his plans to SAIL
Given Safe Conduct.
basy or consular seals OF Great Britain,
Russia and France. giving him guar
antee against molestation by ofhcers
of the allies warships while on the
the way, were in his possession. Other
wise. IL was said he would not have
been permitted to take passage as tne
line has been at great pains to eHciuoe
from its passenger list any one whose
name or connections might cause de-
LAYS or detention of the ship by war
vessels en- route to her DESTINATION.
Mr.. Gerhard registered under his own
name. giving his home as Ne" fo.k .,e
city He carried, in addition to the
official documents signed by represen-
tatives of the allies governments ON
ciaI papers signed by American, Ger
man and Austrian authorities. the ma
ture of which was not ascertainaple 10
day. 1t was assumed. however, that
the Austrian and French documen,s
were his credentials to the German
government.
basis of much confidence in 6erman
quarters here, where 1t was peHeVeo
an understanding on submarine war
fare satisfa ctory to both Germany ana
the United States could be evolved his
task however. is realized as dl1ncuit
one because feeling among German
officials and people. according 10 ren-
able advices here. has been tnat tne
American government was seeking 70
deprive Germany Of its chle1 weapon
of offense-the submarine.
Foreign governments have given as
surances of safe conduct for the ennis
cary, at the request OF fresioeh.
son.
The special envoy will supplement
the memorandum cabled by the am am
bassador to his government resaroiIs
his interview with the President IN
II he described the emphasis ialo ps
the President on the fact that 'ne
United States would omit no word OF
act to secure an acquiescence IN i's
position in the Lusitania case.
Hope was expressed at the Her,llan
embassy today that the ambassador
plan would result In a satlsiac.oi
outcome of the delicate situation that
has arisen. He was said to ne conn
dent that officials in Berlin, "hom ne
thinks were uninformed on the feehns
In the United States when the last note
Was written in Berlin, will now learn
important details that Will aid them III
replying to the latest American note.
Idea of Ambassador.
Ambassador Won Bernstorf is under
stood to have explained that he has
had difficulty on account Of the cable
censorship in making his government
realize the feeling in the United States
and that erroneous reports had reached
Germany.
The transmission Of cabled report
on conference such as occurred
Wednesday through the courtesy OF
foreign government often makes IT
difficult, it was pointed out in diplo-
matte quarters. for the recipient ma
ton to give full weight to the Ian
guage of the writer Of the communt-
cation on the assumption that he does
not speak as freely and frankly as
might be the case IL the messages
were not read by the officials of an
other government.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff's idea is
to supplement the cabled report with
the personal words sent through an
emissary capable of describing the sit
uation accurately.
Although the President naturally
would not discuss this country's rela-
tions with the allies, the ambassador
is said to have been convinced by his
talk with Mr.. Wilson of his sincerity o.
purpose in upholding the neutrality of
the United States. The belief has often
been freely expressed in German quar-
ters that if the imperial government
had been convinced that the United
States would take an equally vigorous
course in securing an adherence by
Great Britain to international law with
reference to shipments OF conditional
contraband and foodstuffs, concilia-
tory reply would have been sent to the
last American note.
On the other hand. officials CONVEX
SAINT with the feeling in Berlin official
not sanguine that a satisfactory reply
will be received. because OF the evil
dence that the admiralty and war staffs
have been dominating the foreign Of
ice, as not infrequently is the case
with nations at war.
Position Of United States.
The principle which is to be placed
squarely before Germany in such a
way as to elicit either an Affirmative
or negative answer was stated In the
follows:
they be of neutral citizenship or citi-
zens of one of the nations at war, can
not lawfully or rightfully be placed in
jeopardy by the capture or destruction
of an unarmed merchantman," and the
imperial government must recognize
also. as all other nations do the obli-
CATION to take the usual precaution of
visit and search"
man note that reliable information was
At hand to the effect that the Lusitania
was armed. the American government
intends to restate that 1t made full
and searching investigation before the
Lusitania sailed and that its good faith
is pledged to the assertion that no
guns, either mounted or unmounted,
were carried by the vessel
In many quarters 1t was believed
Germany might find a way out Of the
dilemma by accepting the statement Of
tho United States as superseding its
own evidence. declaring that a mis-
take had been made. and paving the
way for the giving Of reparation and
formal assurance be given that no ves-
sells leaving American ports carrying
passengers should be armed or resist
capture.
Little importance is attached by Of
ncials to the ahadavits which the Ger
man embassy has transmitted to the
state Department alleging that there
were guns aboard the Lusitania
All four afhdavits have been referred
70 the Department of Justice. which
10 investigating. To controvert them
the United States government has its
own reports from Collector Malone and
his inspectors.
we looked everywhere" Mr. Malone
10 quoted as having said, ION all the
decks and In the holds especially for
guns. but saw none mounted or un-
Slight of Secretary Bryan
by President in Considering
Problems 0f State 0enied