Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-04
OFFICIALS WILL NOT SAY
WHAT NEXT STEP is TO BE
No Danger of Immediate Break
in Diplomatic Re-
lations.
BASIS FOR FURTHER pARLEYs
Final Refusal to Meet American
Viewpoint May Bring About
Threatened Rupture.

WASHINGTON. October 3.--Germany
has failed to satisfy the request OF the
United states that the sinking Of the
Arabic. with loss OF American lives.
be disavowed and liability for the ac-
cident assumed by the imperial gov
ernmcnt. This became known after a
conference tonight between President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing. at which
tho latter submitted a note given him
yesterday in New York by Count Won
Bernstorfr, the German Ambassador.
No announcement was made after
tho White House conference. Secre-
tary Lansing declined to say what the
next step would be. but II was learned
later the German ambassador would
be asked TO come To Washington soon
10 receive the view which the .Ameri-
can government takes Of the last Ger
man note. Count Won Bernstorn is
fully authorized by his government to
conduct the submarine negotiations
While the situation has Improved to
;ne extent that thee Is no danger OF
m immediate break in diplomatic rela-
tons. as the note affords an CoDor-
turtty for further negotiations /, was
stated reliably thai final refusal BY
Germany TO meet the American view
point on the Arabic case nigh; bring
tbout the threatened rupture in diplo-
matte relations.
POINTS IN CONFLICT
NOT DEFINITELY KNOWN
Just what the details are on which
the TWO governments are In conflict
vas not definitely known tonight
In general IL was learned that Ger
many. after examining the evidence
submitted by tho United States, came
20 the conclusion that the submarine
commander erred in assuming that the
submarine was intent on ramming the
German submarine when steering to
rescue the passengers on the British
steamer Dunsley. This admission OF :,
mistake would amount to a disayowai
Of the act, but the United states has
insisted that disavowal must bc accom-
panied by an assumption Of RESPONSE
b!ity and liability. and that fun repa-
ration must be given for American
lives lost Germany IN her first note
indicated that II the German COM
mander made mistake. the imperial
government would not tccl obligated
20 pay damages. bat was willing TO
submit 70 arbitration the question OF
whether under tho circumstances. the
German commander did make an honest
mistake, thus leaving IL TO an arbitral
tribunal TO decide what iia bility II any,
was thereby incurred
CANNOT ARBITRATF: LOSS
OF AMERICAN LIVES
President Wilson has taken the posi-
tion that the United States cannot ar
hitrate questions Involving tho loss OF
American lives and ii is believed that
in the next step the WASHINGTON gov
ernnent will indicate that the only
matter II can subIni, TO arbitration is
the amount Of the damages to be paid
after the question of liability itself al
ready is admitted.
The fact that the negotiations are
being conducted without publication
OF the texts of the notes messages
or memoranda that are passing be-
tween the two governments. is conyid-
cred by high officials an important
factor, for IL permits Of frank discus
sion OF the points NJ issue
There were rumors TO-DAY that
Count Won Bernstorff was preparing
to supplement the note he left with
Secretary Lansing yesterday il he
found that did not satisfy the Amer
icam government This could not he
confirmed here on account Of the abb
sence of the ambassador.
The Arabic case has comnletelv
subordinated other cases that previous
ly had arisen between the United States
and Germany over submarine warfare,
and il has been known to Germany
that the American government Is look
ing upon the Arabic negotiations as
test OF good faith