American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-09-02
BERLIN RECOGNIZES
AMERICAN DEMANDS
Ambassador Won BernstOrff Sends
Formal Letter to Secretary Lans-
ing Which Relaxes Strained
Relations OF Two
Countries.

ed States anu GerIuduy ofoi Supluoi i-S
warfare apparently passed into his
tory Wednesday after Count Won Bern
storff, the German ambassador, in
formed Secretary Lansing in writing
that prior to the sinking of the Arabic
his government had decided that its
submarines should sink no more liners
without warning.
Oral assurances to this effect had
been given by the ambassador last
week. But 1t was not until Count Won
Bernstorff, after a call at the state
department Wednesday, returned to
the embassy and sent letter to Mr..
Lansing quoting instructions from
Berlin concerning an answer to be
made to the last American note on
the sinking of the Lusitania, that Of
ficials frankly admitted their gratifi-
cation over the changed position OF
the imperial government.
Secretary Lansing said in a formal
statement that the letter appears to
be a recognition of the fundamental
principle for which we have con-
tended
cation to the White House and dis
cussed it in cheerful vein.
Tension Relaxes.
Everywhere in administration cir
cles there was a visible relaxation of
the tension which had existed ever
since the Lusitania tragedy, though
lessened by the earlier assurances of
Count Won Bernstorff and advices
from Ambassador Gerard as to the at
titude of officials in Berlin.
The next step, it is said, authori-
lively will be a formal communica-
tion from the German government,
disavowing the destruction of the
Arabic and rendering regret and rep
aration for American lives lost If the
attack was made by a German sub
marine.
Even IL the submarine which tor
; pedoed the liner subsequently was
E sunk by British man of war, as has
been suggested both from Berlin and
London, the Berlin foreign office is
expected to send it's disavowal as soon
as a reasonable time has passed with
out report from its commander.
Take Up Lusitania Case.
Once the situation growing out OF
the Arabic incident has been disposed
If. the response to the long unan-
swered American note on the Lusi-
tania will be dispatched and If Ger
manys eplanations and proposals In
this case are accepted by the United
States both officials and diplomats
here expect the way to be cleared fol
a complete understanding between
the two governments on the subject
of the freedom of the seas. In Ger
man circles It is freely admitted thai
In Berlin d hope prevails that sucf
an understanding would be followed
by insistent action by the Uplte'
States to stop interferences with neu
trail commerce by Great Britain ant
her allies which prevent German!
from importing food supplies for he
civil population.
Ambassadors Letter.
Won Bernstorff's letter which re
yealed for the first time that Ger
many had prepared an answer to tn
Arabic incident is definitely and satls
disnatched when the Arabic was de
.troved follows: "My instruction
concerning our attitude to your las
Insitania note contains the follow
ing: Liners will not be sunk by ou
submarines without warning an
without safety for the lives OF hoi
combatants, provided the liners do ne
trv to escape or offer resistance A
though / know you do not "ish
discuss the Lusitania question till u
Arabics incident is definitely and sat-
factorly settled, desire to lntor
Won of the above, because this Is u
policy my government decided on b
fore the Arabic incident occurred
CONVENTIONS Recognized.
In connection with this letter Seer
tary Lansing made the foiiowiI
statement: "In view Of the clearne
of the foregoing statement 1t seen
needless to make any comment, oth
than it appears to be recognition
the fundamental principle for whi'
we contended."
Secretary Lansing Interpreted II
er" as used in the letter 10 mean
peaceful merchant ships. Later in !
formal conversation the German al
bassador explained that regular pa
senger vessels we're meant. The
seemed TO be no disposition, howev'
to question the intention of the BE
lin government to grant the fund
mental demands of the United Stat
and officials were inclined to W;
for the formal communication witho
discussing the meaning OF terms.
was pointed out, too, that the cas-
at issue between the two governmer
- concern passenger liners and that
= far no question had arisen as to
freight vessel carrying Americans
her crew