The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-01
OFFICIALS MORE OPTIMISTIC
TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN
GERMAN CASE CHANGE
SITUATION.
Bcrnstorif ASSURES Lansing of German
Intention Not tO Harm Americans
New Policy Will he Announced.

tensity of the situation and were taken
To foreshadOw declaration from
Berlin on the subject of submarine
warfare which would eliminate dis
cord.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, called on Secretary Lam
sing and informed him that the state
ment presented Tuesday by direction
of the Berlin foreign office saying
there was no intent To cause loss of
American lives when the White Star
liner Arabic was destroyed, was in
tended TO imply that German subma-
rine commanders had been ordered
to attack no more merchantmen
without warning.
Ambassador Gerard, reporting from
Berlin the substance of a conference
with Foreign Minister <Jagow, con-
flrmed Associated Press dispatches
that Germany. even before the sink
ing of the Arabic. had adopted a pol
icy designed TO settle completely the
whole submarine problem.
The state department did not make
public Ambassador Gerard's dispatch,
but the optimism Immediately re-
fiected at the state department and
the White House was taken as con-
vincing proof that the situation was
on the way TO settlement.
The more hopeful officials thought
he crisis had passed and inferred that
the views which Ambassador Won
Bernstorff had been urging upon Ber-
tania had prevailed with the support
! of the liberals in Germany who have
been opposing the anti-American pol
! icy Of the conservatives.
Secretary Lansing, while outwardly
Encouraged. was reserved, awaiting
some definite declaration from Berlin
and the same attitude was reflected
at the White House where it was in
dicated that President Wilson, en-
couraged at the prospect of averting
a break. still was keeping his mind
open until all the "details are cleared
lup.
| One fact was outstanding in the
whole situation. 1t was that fur
ther communication is coming from
Germany outlining a policy which,
II Is said, is expected To be satisfactory
to the United States. 1t is under
stood that Germany will announce n
suspension of her submarine warfare
on passenger-ca carrying ships and that
submarine commanders will he in
structed not to sink any merchantmen
without warning pending a diplomat
ic discussion of "a proposal for modus
vivendi for relaxation of the British
blockade against neutral commerce.
From such information as reached
sources here il was apparent that the
sinking OF the Arabic-assuming that
the ship was sunk by submarine
was as much of a surprise in Germany
as 1t was to the rest of the world. for
although IL has not yet been officially
stated, it is believed that German sub
marine commanders after the sinking
OF the Lusitania received instructions
10 avoid another such disaster.
IL was suggested today in diplo-
matte quarters that while Germany
had avoided making public an
Inouncement Of that fact, she now
was in position to do so, because
or the victories of the German arms
in Poland. The same sources point
ed out that the victories of the Ger
man armies aided the liberal forces in
Germany which have been contcnding
for the views which Count Won Bern
storr has been urging on the foreign
Office.
The Berlin news dispatches refer
ring to the German chancellors dec
laration that Germany had adopted n
policy designed to settle the question
puzzled American officials and even
those in German quarters. 1t was sug-
gestcd In one source that 1t might
loreshadOw diplomatic negotiations
to he undertaken by Count Won Bern
storT with the state department which
would take up the question Of the
much discussed modus vivendi.
There is no indication at this stage
OF how Gcrmany's new attitude win
Affect the case of the Arabic. If it
should be proved TO the satisfaction
OF the American government that n
submarine sunk tho ship without
warming the United States probabiy
would not only ask the disavowal OF
the act but assurances against .rcpa-