The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-29

many, America would be no less en-
iphatic In her representations to Lon
don concerning the starvation block.
ade" thai, she should be In those to
Berlin, relative to the loss of Ameri-
cans lives through nnwarned attacks
on the allies merchantmen.
1t would have been bitter pill for
Germany to have accepted these
terms in just the form they were Of
fered by the Washington administers
ton. Many diplomats believe, how
ever, that Germany has been waiting
for an opportunity to accept the terms
suggested when she could do SO with
out too much floss Of face and that
the Arabic incident offered the oppor-
tunity.
At any rate IT was pointed out II
the Arabic case works out as every
thing indicates. the United States will
be forced, not against her WIN, into
the position of mediating between Ger
many and Great Britain In the mat
ters OF submarine campaign and the
starvation blockade"
Previous semi-off1cial German ut
terances left no doubt, it was argued,
that the kaiser hopes this will lead to
a general peace talk"
The German military position, it
was agreed, is such that they can
well afford to enter on such discus
sion now. It was not deemed SO
likely to be welcomed by the allies.
Still it was remarked financial cOndi-
tions are reaching such pass in all
the belligerent countries that none
can lightly disregard peace sugges-
lions.
In recent utterances by British For
eign Minister Sir Edward Grey, ne
recognized the admissibility OF dis
cussion on certain conditions be-
tween England and Germany, Com
corning freedom of the seas"
Summing up their conclusions, able
authorities said they thought pos
sible move was near with the United
States as intermediary which would
be at least step in the direction of
restored European peace.
German Ambassador Won Bern
storff was said to have conferred with
Secretary of State Lansing today by
but there was no announce
ment concerning their conversation.
Within few days 1t was expected
the Berlin foreign office would notify
Gerard either that the
Arabic was not sunk by German
submarine or more probably hand
him the report for immediate trans
mission to Washington, of the u boat
who fred the torpedo
II an unwarned attack, without ade-
Quate reason was made on the liner,
the presumption was that the SUBJ
marines commanders action would
be repudiated, inasmuch as Ger
many already has denied ordering
attacks-a fact which was
not given to the outside world, be-
cause 1t was explained, 1t was
explained 1t was deemed legitimate
strategy to worry the enemy and to
keep neutral passengers from taking
their ships as far as possible.
& Another suggestion was that the
Submarines commander would plead
q belief that he at least, thought
the Arabic was about to ram him or
to escape.
A third was that the U boat itself
was sunk after the sinking Of the
Arabic, a contingency which would
of course, prevent the submission Of
his account OF their affair.
Finally, there were few who
thought it possible the attack was
deliberate. inspired by German inter-
ests who sought to emDarraSs the
Bethmann-Hollweg influence In the
fatherland's affairs.
Whichever guess proved true, small
doubt was felt tonight that Germany's
representations would prove satisfac-
tory, either In the form of an explana-
ton or a disavowal, that they would
be accompanied by full PREPARATION"
and that they would include pledge
OF future German compliance with tho
American Interpretation Of the rules
Of international law as applied to sea
welfare.
GERMAN SUBMARINE,
FRENCH AEROPLANE
CONTINUED from page IL
gained circulation today that one OF
fha steel MILL en Moves here had been