Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-07-07
Forecast of Germany's Re- ply Contained in Dispatch
 from Gerard.
BERLIN SEEKS TO
 CLARITY SITUATION
Asks That President Wilson's Note Be Clearly Construed, Showing Dis. position to Accord Full RecOgnf-
 tiOn American Rights.

Washington, July 6.-Certain "con- yersations'' between Ambassador Ge- rard and the German foreign office on the note of reply to the United States from Germany nave been re- ceived at the state department and telegraphed to the president at Cor, nish.
 While Secretary of State Lansing declined to state the nature of Mir. Gerard's communications, it is un- derstood MT. Gerard was asked to construe the presidents note to Ger many in certain particulars and that he referred the inquiry to Washing ton.
 The state department holds that these memoranda are of an official nature and could not be made public without the consent of Germany. It is stated here that Germany wants to know precisely how far the presidents note affects her general policy of submarine warfare. The text of the presidents first note was notice to Germany that her subma- rine warfare must cease altogether. Subsequently,, officials of the depart ment explained that the president meant only the operations of German submarines should be restricted to international. law requirements, and that the chief concern of the United States was that such warfare should be conducted without interference With the American vessels and Amer jeans citizens on "unarmed merchant men" of the belligerents.
 Although the president in his sec ond note, in short paragraph, reit- erated the general objections in his nrst com Ommunication on the subject, the belief now exists that the admin lstration's attitude has been material y modified, in view of the friendly attitude of Germany and her appar- ent desire to regard strictly and leg ally the rights of all American mer- cnantmen, as we'll as the rights of all
 American citizens who might be on
 the unarmed vessels of the belliger-
 ents.
 Joint Inspection Proposed.
 Germany. it is understood, has pro-
 posed a joint system of inspection of
 passenger steamers. Details are lack
 Ing as to whether Germany will con-
 sent to the carriage of contraband of
 such vessels.
 AS for treatment of cargo ships oniclals are not clear as to how the
 American point of view, as expressed
 :" Hs recent notes, can be satisfied,
 unless German submarines, before at tacklng, undertake to transfer the crew to place of safety, in accord
 ance with the naval prize codes of all
 nations. New difficulties have arisen which now complicate the situation.
 lhese are the cases of the British lin
 CTS Armenian and Anglo-Californian,
 walch cargo ships, by making repeat
 ca efforts to escape, justified attacks
 oy the German submarines.
 Compa ratively no attention is be-
 ing given in the informal discussions
 which have arisen to the case of
 sn1ps flying American flags as com
 piete immunity from attacks has, in
 enect, been guaranteed such ships by
 uermany's most recent note.
 While no definite assurance has
 Deen given. officials here believe that
 lurther attacks without warnings
 VIII not be made against vessels
 whether of neutral or belligerent
 character, at least until means of in
 surlng the safety of Americans on
 sne h1gh seas is agreed upon in the
 present negotiations.