The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-09-02
Ambassador Authorized
toRecognize Principle
as u. S. Demands.
PUT IN WRITING
This Is Believed to Mean An
End of Controversy War
fare Over Submarines.

End of Controversy War
fare Over Submarines.
Washington, 2. C-Germany has
accepted declaration of the United
States in the submarine warfare COM
toversy. Ambassador Won Bern.
storff gave today both oral and writ
ten assurances to Secretary Lansing
that no more passenger ships will bo
sunk without warning. After q con-
ference at the state department..
Belnstorff sent Lansing letter bear.
ing out his previous verbal assure
ances.
4 Following ia the German ambassa-
doris notes.
| "My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
"With reference to our CONVERSE
' tion of this morning, 1 beg to inform
you that my instructions concerning
our answer to your last Lusitania
note contains the following passage:
Liners will not be sunk by our
submarines without warning and
without the safety of the lives of
non-combatants, provided that the
liners do not try to escape or offer
reSistance.'
"Although know that you do not
wish to discuss the Lustiania ques-
tion till the Arabic incident has been
definitely and satisfactorily settled,
desire to inform you OF the above
because this policy OF my government
was decided ON before the Arabic in-
cident.
81 have no objection to you maxi
ing any use you may please of the
above information.
81 remain, my dear Mr.. Lansing,
"(Signed)
every sincerely yours,
81. Bernstorff."
In connection with the letter, Sec
retary Lansing made the following
statement: ~ ..esis q
'.In view of the clearness of the
German statement, it seems needless
to make any comment in regards to
it, other than to say that it appears
to be a recognition of the fundament-
al principle for which we have con-
tended"
ALL MADE HAPPY
Count Won BernstOrff's letter was
forwarded to President Wilson as
soon us it was reached at state de-
partment,
No formal comment was made at
the White House, but on every hand
in official quarters there was evil
dence of qualification that the SUBJ
ynarine crisis had passed, and that
Germany had acknowledged the JUS
tice of the principles for which Presi-
dent Wilson has been contending.
Conference With Lansing.
Washington, d. Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador,
en- Instructions from Berlin, today
verbally informed Secretary Lansing
that the German government had
accepted the principle that passenger
lines should be warned before an at
tack by submarines. He will for
mally communicate this information
in writing later. The ambassadors
conference with Lansing lasted f1f-
teen minutes. He came from New
York unexpectedly last night.
Secretary Lansing, after the visit
of the German Ambassador, said:
'"I.e German ambassador told me
that his government would accept
cur declarations regarding submarine
warfare in principle. The ambassa-
der agreed to reduce his statement
in writing. which he will submit to
mo later i'll the day.
Count Won Bernstorf was infOrm-
ed that the United States could not
accept as final the oral transmission
of the German point of view. Secre-
tary Lansing said he would with hold
comment until the written mcmOran-
dunn is received.
Is Reply to Wilson.
Within an hour after Won Bern
storff left the state department,
from the German embas-
sly arrived at Secretary Lansing's
office with an official communication
from Count Won Bernstorff, believed
to be the written statement of the
German position, for which Lansing
had asked.
Secretary Lansing and Won Bern
storff discussed at length the sign
ficance of the oral statement, during
their interview. The acceptance of the
principal that passenger ships shall
not be attacked without warning will
be considered as an answer to Presi-
dent Wilson'S last note on the Lusi-
tania.
IF it is established clearly that Ger
many has yielded to the representa-
tons of this government respecting
the safety of neutrals on ths high
seas, it is believed that submarine
will be under way toward
an amicable settlement.