The Washington times., 1915-09-10
A GRAVE INTERNATIONAL
SITUATION

to both Germany and Austria have
suddenly entered into phase of the
utmost gravity.
Conjecture as to the possible de-
velopments that may flow, and flow
rapidly, from the things that have
transpired in the past twenty-four
hours is both undesirable and un-
timely. The facts speak for them
selves; they attest a posture of af-
fairs that the veriest tyro in inter-
national matters must recognize as
pregnant with the most dangerous
possibilities.
AS if they might have been care
fully timed for dramatic effect, the
difficulties of our Government with
both the German and Austrian gov
ernments were forced into new and
acute aspects almost in the same
hour.
The Washington Government de-
cided that it could not tolerate the
presence of Austrian Ambassador
Dumba in this country, and trans
mitted to Vienna, through our am
bassador at that court, an intima-
tion to this effect. It was the in
direct method, the roundabout way
Of accomplishing that which, if ac-
complished directly, would have
been done by handing his passports
to the Austrian ambassador.
Almost at the same hour that
this crisis was reached in relation
with Austria there came from Ber-
lin the text of the German note to
the United States dealing with the
torpedoing Of the Arabic. The note
is brief, and, while automatically
correct in form, is distinctly curt,
even to the point of carrying a de-
fiant tone.
Germany states the facts as they
have been tardily reported to her
admiralty by the commander of the
submarine that sent the Arabic to
the bottom. The submarine was
sinking the merchantmen Dunsley,
when her commander saw a large
steamer approaching. She changed
course so as to approach the sub
marine. Thinking he was going to
be attacked, the submarine COM
mander "gave orders for the sub
marine to dive, and fired a torpedo
at the steamer" The note proceeds:
After firing he convinced himself
that the people on board were being
rescued in fifteen boats.
It is not quite apparent how the
submarine, having dived, could have
made sure of such detail as that
fifteen boats of the Arabic were
rescuing her company. 1t is rea-
sonably apparent, however, that the
assurance on this point was not very
satisfactory, because there was a
large loss of life among the Arabic's s
people, including Americans.
The German note calls attention
to the fact that only a few days
earlier this same submarine had
been fired upon by a British vessel,
at long range, in the Irish Sea. In
conclusion Germany expresses re-
gret that the lives, and especially
American lives, were lost. But it
finds itself unable, however, to &C.
knowledge any obligation to grant
indemnity in the matter, even if the
commander should have been mis-.
taken as to the aggressive inten'
tions of the Arabic"
Then follows a suggestion that il
Germany and the United States are
unable to agree at this point the
differences be submitted to The
Hague for arbitration; and finally
the most important and startling
feature of the Berlin note is the
last paragraph:
In doing so chat is. in proposing
to arbitrate) 1t assumes that as
matter Of course the arbitral deci-
sion shall not be admitted to have
the Importance Of a general deci-
sion on the permissibility or the
converse under international law Of
German submarine warfare.
Thus Germany, in the face of tn
American Governments repeated
representations of it's protest
against present German methods o
undersea war, tardily declines t.
open a way to consider remedy.
It is true that in the recent Bern
storff note Washington was toll
that submarine commanders ha
been told not to cause loss of life il
sinking liners, unless the liners re
sisted or tried to escape. Yet Bel
lin, despite this assurance, declare
itself unable to acknowledge an
obligation to grant indemnity, eve
if the commander should have bee
mistaken as to the aggressive ir
tsntions of the Arabic"
In short, Berlin seems now
withdraw the promise that wa
made last week concerning safet
Of life. 1t will arbitrate the cues
tion of indemnity, but not the que!
tion of permissibility of Germa