The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-09-09
GERMANY ACCEPTS DEMANDS.
BernStorff States no More Liners Tor.
pedoed Without Warning.

fare apparently passed into history
today after Count Von Bernstorff,
the German ambassador, informed
Secretary Lansing in writing that
prior to the sinking of the Arabic his
government had decided that its sub
marines should sink no more liners
without warning.
Oral assurances to this effect had
been given by the ambassador last
week. But it was not until Count
Won Bernstorff, after a call at the
State department today, returned to
the embassy and sent letter to MIR.
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 for
NAL statement that the letter "ap-
pears to be a recognition of the fun
damental principle for which we
have contended. He Immediately
sent the communication to the white
house and discussed it in cheerful
vein with his callers, who included
Chief Justice White, Secretary Nc
Adoo and Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina. Everywhere in administra-
ton circles there was a visible relax
alton.
The Next Step.
The next step, it is stated, will be
a formal communication from the
German government disavowing the
destruction of the Arabic and tender
ing regret and reparation for Ameri-
can lives lost in the disaster if the
attack was made by German sub
marine. Even if the submarine that
torpedoed the liner subsequently
was sunk by British man-of-war,
as has been suggested both from Ber-
lin and London, the Berlin foreign
Office is expected to send it's dis
avowal as soon as reasonable time
has passed without report from it's
commander.
Once the situation growing out of
the Arabic incident has been dispos-
ed of, the response to the long un-
answered American note on the Lusi-
tania will be dispatched, and if Ger
many's explanation and proposals in
this case are accepted by the United
States both officials and diplomats
here expect the way to be cleared for
a complete understanding between
the two governments on the subject
of freedom of the seas.
In German circles it IS freely ad-
mitted that in Berlin hope prevails
that such an understanding would be
followed by insistent action by the
United States to stop the allies in
reference with neutral commerce,
which prevents Germany from i'm
porting food for her civil population.
Bernstorff's Letter.
Count Won Bernstorff's. letter,
which revealed for the first time that
Germany had prepared an answer to
the Lusitania note, which was about
to be dispatched when the Arabic
was destroyed, reads:
"My Dear Mr.. Secretary: With
reference to our conversation Of this
I beg to inform you that my
instruction concerning our answer
to your last Lusitania note contains
the following passage:
Liners will not be sunk by our
SUI ubmarines without warning and
without safety of the lives of non
combatants, provided that the liners
do not try to escape or offer resist
ance.'
although I know that you do not
wish to discuss the Lusitan1a ques-
ton till the Arabic incident has been
definitely and satisfactorily settled,
I desire to inform you of the above
because this policy of my govern
ment was decided on before the
Arabic incident occurred.
'1I have no objection to your max
ing any use you may please of the
above information.
Il remain, my dear Mr.. Lansing,
very sincerely yours,
81. Bernstorff."
In connection with the letter Sec
retary Lansing made the following
statement:
'sIn view of the clearness of the
foregoing statement it seems need
less to make any comment in regard
to it other than to say that it ap-
pears to be a recognition of the fun
damental principle for which we
hava commended "