New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-03
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington, Sept. 2.-President Will
son and Secretary of State Lansing are
awaiting a report from the German
government on the torpedoing Of the
White Star liner Arabic. so that the
way will be cleared for the sending by
the German government Of the answer
it has prepared to the last Lusitania
mote
The excerpt from this note which
Ambassador Won Bernstorf handed to
the State Department yesterday has al
lGyed all apprehension as to break
with Germany, but both the President
and the Secretary Of State are eager TO
learn what is in the rest Of the com
munication, for il is understood here
that the German governments answer
will be a clear statement OF the
methods it purposes to use in continu'
ing its submarine warfare.
While no one would predict just when
the Lusitania note would arrive, IT is
understood that President Wilson looks
fer q communication from Germany
relative 10 the torpedoing Of the Arabic
within a short time. 1t is pointed out
mander is not heard from within the
next week il will be reasonable 20 as
sumo that he has been lost. and, there
fore. that thu answer should no longer
be delayed. Once the Arabic case has
been disposed Of there will be nothing
in the way Of the German answer TO the
last Lusitania note.
Note to Britain Held Back.
The note to Great Britain protesting
against her interference with neutral
trade probably will not be sent before
the German reply is received. The note
is prepared, but il is known that the
President believes that il would be use
less to take up the issue with Great
Britain until the German controversy IS
disposed Of.
The most potent argument that AM
bassador Won Bernstorff used with his
government to bring about the state.
ment Of yesterday was that part or
President Wilson's last note TO Ger
many dealing with the freedom OF the
seas, reading:
"The government of the United
States will continue TO contend for that
freedom. from whatever quarter violat-
ed, without compromise and at any
cost"
Count Won Bernstorff, it is under
stood. explained that this constituted
q pledge by President Wilson himself
and that unless the German govern
ment accepted il as such serious sit
uation was likely to follow.
II was only after the most vigorous
arguing that the German Ambassador
was able to bring his government to
his view. The German Foreign Once,
il seemed. was loath to yield any point
unless something was given in return.
Constant Talk of Peace.
One Of the singular developments of
the German situation is the freeness
with which possible peace is discussed.
Scarcely a move is made that repre-
sentative Germans in Washington do
not in some way link it up with pos
sible peace. The memorandum handed
TO Secretary Lansing by Count Won
Bernstorf was no exception. Hardly
had the memorandum been given TO the
public than reports began to spread
that Germany had opened the way for
peace Il was explained that President
Wilson had succeeded in getting from
Germany assurances regarding the
safety of Americans on the seas, and
if he met with similar success in his
negotiations with Great Britain there
was little to stand in the way of bring
ing about peace, for once he was able
to get the belligerents in frame of
mind where each would offer conces-
a ms peace was not far off.
II IL not likely that President Wilson
will take this view. He has been in
sisting on the recognition Of prin-
ciple.
One report tonight was that the pur-
pose of the German memorandum filed
by Ambassador Won Bernstorf was TO
enlist the cooperation Of the United
States in ending the war. The report
was that Germany wanted peace on
terms which provided for the freedom
of the seas, freedom for Poland and
worldwide recognition of the Jews.
This report was placed with many 9TH
ers which have been set afoat here
which have no substantial foundation.