Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-13
ENVOY TO EXPLAIN
NOTE ON ARABIC
Won Bernstorf Will Discuss Is
sue With Secretary of State
Lansing To-Day.
MAY CLEAR UP SITUATION
Attitude of United States to Be
Determined Later by President
Wilson and His Premier.
fspecial,o Tho Times-Dispatch ]

Especial TO The Times Dispatch
WASHINGTON. Scptcmbcr l2.-Count
Won Bernstorf. the German amhas
dor. came TO Washington TODAY from
New York TO discuss with Secretary
of State Lansing the recent note TO
Germany on the Arabic case. and the
disclosure affecting Captain Franz Won
Papen, the German military attachc
He will call upon Secretary Lansing
Tomorrow
The conference will he Of great i'm
portance. II is expected to clear up
materially the situation which now
exists between the two governments
by reason of the doubt created in the
minds of officials Of the State Depart
ment as to the exact meaning Of Ger
many's latest communication
The German ambassador will explain
TO Secretary Lansing the position
which Germany has taken in the note
This position, as the amba ssador will
outline II to Mr. Lansing, is as fol-
lows:
Germany stands by her recent ac-
ceptancc of the principle that pas
sengcr vessel shall not be torpedocd
without warning. and without pro-
vision for the safety of the passengers
unless she endeavors to resist or es-
cape Germany holds. however that
her liability for the payment of in
demnity for the lives Of any Amcri-
cans lost in the sinking Of the Arabic
is matter to be settled by arbitra-
tion. If the decision of an interna-
tional tribunal should be that Ger
many should pay indemnity, the amount
decided on VIII be promptly paid, The
ambassador will assure Mr.. Lansing
that this is the construction to be
placed on the Arabic note.
GERMANY DECLINES
TO ADMIT LIABILITY
For the first time. 1t is possible now
to explain Gcrmany's reasons for not
acknowledging her liability for in
demnity for American lives lost with
the Arabic, and her desire that the
| question should be arbitratcd The
German view is that Americans have
| no right to travel on BrttG5h vessels
and thereby knowinGI~ put themselves
In danger. In the light OF this belief
| she refuses TO admit that she is obli-
gated to pay for the lives Of Ameri-
cans lost under such circumstances
The American View, however. is that
American citizens are entitled to
travel on merchant vessels OF bcll-
gerent nationality. and If they arc lost
by reason OF a subma rinc attack, Ger
many must pay indemnity.
According TO the German view. the
only remaining important point in
connection with submarine wayfarc on
which the two governments now do
not agree is the question of Gcrmany's
obligation TO pay for the loss Of lives.
Whether the United States will con
sent to arbitrate tho point. will, in
all probability. be decided by Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing to-
morrow. AT a conference which the,
expect to hold.
The opinion persists in Washington
that this government will aCccle TO
! the proposition for arbitration. but
with the limitation that no fundamcn-
tai principle will be involved. and that
the only question TO he settled Will
be the Justification OF the torpedo at
tack and the consequent liability or
nonliability of the German govern
ment for indemnity
EVIDENCE REGARDED
PROBABLY AS ONE-SIDED
Government officials were inclined
at first TO take without question the
aDnoreptlv nranoria,,,, o.;,o
frn,, so,.. - ,,
sbo wos ,orno,,. i,,,.
and ,b,, sha r,. ~ ',
no oct which ,yo,Is ;,s,;T,.
bv subm,ri,o rhar
minds n, omc;o,s ,o;h,
tho new tboueb, ,ba. ~ ,.;1o
NIL on hoard ~, ,,h, ;,,,,,,
An,ericap u.i,,o..os .o,,,s
rardod nc oros;aaa
II was Iaar,od ,,.
of rho ,r,hi -, - -.
officials with the view Of aiirr nrr' |,,,i claims