Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-10
.. s. WILL REJECT BERLIN'S
STAND IN ARABIC NOTE


The State Department has begun prepa-
ration OF a reply TO the German note on
| the Arabic, emphaticaily rejecting the
suggestion that the submarine commander
was entirely within his rights In torpedo
ing the liner. and also the contention
that Germany is not under obligation to
grant indemnity IN the matter. THIS note
will be presented 60 President Wilson for
his approval as soon as completed.
II was lntlmated In oficial circles that
there is no intention OF consulting further
with Ambassador Won Bernstorff on the
subject. The note when approved will be
handed to the German Foreign Ofiicc by
Ambassador Gerard, 20 whom II win be
cabled.
President Wilson, it is understood, takes
the position that the Arabic note and the
| German submarine commanders claims
are entirely at variance with the physical
facts in the matter the Arabic having
been torpedoed far astern instead OF In
a bow section, which would have been
the case had she been trying to ram the
submarine.
President Wilson had before him today
the German Arabic note. There was de-
cided disappointment In official circles over
the tone OF the document, even though IL
expressed regret that lives we're lost. The
fiat declaration that the German Govern
ment IL unable, however, TO acknowledge
any obligation TO grant indemnity in the
matter, even though the commander
should have been mistaken as to the
aggressive intention OF the Arabic has
displeased greatly officials close to the
President. They declare that II is an open
prejudging Of the case with the suggestion
OF arbitration. II the two Governments
cannot reach a harmonious agreement on
this point does not soften.
Many officials were inclined TO believe
that the President would make this plain
to Germany In peremptory note. There
was no attempt, however, to disguise the
disappointment over the general tone Of
the memorandum, which is characterized
in official circles as more a general de-
fense of submarine warfare than an effort
to meet the known wishes OF the Admin
istration.
The President and Secretary Lansing
planned to confer On the Arabic note
either late today or tomorrow, to decide
on a course Of action.
Officials today became more amazed at
the general tone of the note the more they
examined 1t. Not only was 1t far from
concilatory, they said, but 1t apparently
was written to end the matter according
to the German point OF view.
II was thought possible that the note
was drafted in such a manner so as to
purposely delay action and to draw on
n COHNTONetSy' inns, IL was ndue pam
by officials today. positively would not
be permitted The answer now being
drafted by the State Department, Il was
said, would be sharp and to the point,
and would reject in toto all of Germany's
suggestions.
The text of the note rs as follows:
On August 10 German submarine
stopped the English steamship Dunsley
about is nautical miles south of Kinsale
~ the uOinf 40 otp
prize oy gunfire after the crew had left
the vessel At this moment the COM
mander saw large steamship making
directly toward him. This steamship, as
developed later, was the Arabic. She
was recognized as an enemy vessel, as
she did not ny any flag and bore no
neutral markings.
When she approached she altered her
original course, but then again pointed
directly toward the submarine From
this the commander became convinced
that the steamship had the intention of
attacking and ramming him.
In order to anticipate this attack he
gave orders for the submarine to dive
and fired a torpedo at the steamship,
After firing he convinced himself that
the people on board were being rescued
In Is boats
According to his instructions. the COM
mander was not allowed to attack the
ARABIC without warning and without
saving the lives unless the shin at
tempted to escape or offered resistance.
He was forced, however, to conclude
from the attendant circumstances that
the Arabic planned violent attack on
the submarine.
This conclusion is all the more obvious
as he had been fred upon at a great els
tance in the Irish Sea on August 14-that
is. few days before-by a large passen-,
ger steamship apparently belonging to
the British Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company, which he had neither attacked
nor stopped.
The German Government Llost deeply
regrets that lives were lost through tha
action OF the commander 1t particularly
expresses this regret to the Government
OF the United States on account of the
death OF American citizens.
The German Government is unable.
however. to acknowledge any obligation
TO grant indemnity In the matter, even
II the commander should have been mis-
taken as to the aggressive intentions OF
the Arabic.
nENY E0Rn pIIVC TIDE crnrHy