The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-10-06

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-The Ger
man-American crisis arising from the
destruction of the British liner Arabic
by a German Submarine and the kill
ing of two Americans and about 40
other persons was ended yesterday
completely to the satisfaction of the
American government when Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador,
sent Il letter to Mr.. Lansing, secretary
of state, expressing the German gov
eminent 5 regret and its disaVoWal of
the act of the submarine commander.
At the same time, Count Won Berns-
torff assured Mr.. Lansing that the kai-
ser 5 instructions to his naval com
manders had been made so stringent
that incidents like the sinking of the
Arabic could not recur. The ambassa-
dor, on behalf OF his government, ac-
cepted liability for all damages to
American citizens resulting from the
destruction of the Arabic and an
nounced his Willingness to negotiate
amounts due.
The language of Count Won Bern
storff 5 note makes it plain that the
long and bitter controversy arising from
| the German submarine campaign is
very near an end. At the state depart
ment it was said officially that the re
suits of the less formal communica
tions between the ambassador and the
secretary of state, which ended in the
ambassador ; satisfactory letter indi
Gated that better and quicker result,
probably could be reached without ad
ditional exchanges of formal notes.
This is taken to mean that the Ger
man answer TO the last American not,
on the general submarine question
originating from the destruction of tn,
Lusitania, may never reach Washing
ton. Such a note was prepared man,
weeks ago, and one sentence from it
giving Germany's promise not to at
tack unresisting liners without warning
was quoted in short letter from Coun
Won Bernstorff to Mr.. Lansing shortl
after the attack on the Arabic. Blu
the body of the note probably will Civ
! lplaee to informal conversations be
tween the two diplomats, although a
the end of their discussions, when
full agreement is reached on all remain
ing minor details. this settlement ma
be made public in the form of lei
/ ter.
. cit is q diplomatic victory for tn
United States Ambassador Won BerI
3 storff remarked to q friend, referrin
I to the Arabic settlement, ''but cred
0 must be given to Germany, l believ
/ for nobly accepting the word of til
British officers that they did not il
: tend to ram the submarine.
: This point, it was learned, at OF
:. time threatened to interrupt the pr
: ceedings, as the German government ;
+ first wished to arbitrate the confic
= ing evidence.
p The promptness with which Coul
J Won Bernstorff altered the origin
draft of the letter demonstrated TIL
he had been empowered to negotiate
4 complete settlement of the case, al
4 it was assumed that he naturally d
4 not finally accede until the America
: government made known its unalte
4 able determination not to rclinqui
1 any of its demands.
4 Secretary Lansing made no CONNIE
4 on the ambassador s letter except
! remark that it spoke for itself.
IL 1t is mild statement of the attitu,
of officials Of the administrati'
1 toward yesterday s developments to :;
4 that they are delighted. The rights
= neutrals, for which the American go
: eminent has been long and earnest
ne contending, are acknowledged by GC
is many Officials believe that the w
re is open now for a resumption of re-
tions with Germany along the esta