Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-25
Break Might Be Averted.
Germany Wants Friendship.

Unofficial word was conveyed to the
President today that close friends of
Count Won Bernstorff believed his tele-
gram. giving his instructions from
Berlin, received here yesterday, fore
Swallowed action by the Berlin govern
ment which will satisfy the United
States. The President was informed
through friends of the ambassador
that Germany desired to maintain
States and that the next message from
Berlin would be of a favoraHl. char
acter.
Officials of the administration here
did not accept Count Won Bernst orff S
message as disavowal, but they We're
hopeful that it indicated disavowal
would be forthcoming
At the State Department it was said
that no further report had been re-
Ceiyed from Ambassador Page in Lon
don, and that no new messages had
come from Ambassador Gerard in Ber
lin. Secretary Lansing said that he
had received no request from Count
Won Bernstorff for a conference or for
an audience with the President The
Secretary declined to say whether he
would make any reply to the Won
Bernstorf message of yesterday, or to
comment in any way upon the mes
sage.
Text of Instructions.
The text of his message from Berlin
by Count Won Bernstorff. the German,
ambassador, yesterday afternoon. 1t
follows:
80 far no official information avail
able concerning the sinking of the
Arabic. The German government trusts
that the American government will not
take a definite stand at hearing only
thn Of do rnh f1,s
opinion of the imperial government,
cannot correspond with the facts. but
that chance will be given to Germany
to be heard equally. Although the i'm
perial government does not doubt the
good faith of the witnesses whose
statements are reported by the news
papers in Europe, it should be borne
in mind that these statements are natu-
rally made under excitement which
might easily produce wrong impress
sions If Americans should have actu-
ally lost their lives this would natu-
rally be contrary to our intentions. The
German government woulI deeply re-
greet the fact and begs to tender sim
cerest sympathies to the American gov
eminent
Facts. as Given, Doubted.
Particular attention was attracted
here by the assertion in the German
communication that in the opinion of
the imperial government the accounts
Of the sinking OF the Arabic which have
come from England could not correspond
with fact. These accounts in affdavits
by the captain of the ship and Ameri-
can survivors have agreed that the
Arabic, an unarmed passenger vessel
bound for the United States. with no
contraband in her cargo, was torpedoed
without warning by a submarine.
1t may be week or more before
Germany is heard from further. The
report of the submarine commander
must be awaited in Berlin, and it is
known that sometimes ten days or
more elapse before the underwater
boats return to their bases and COM
municate with the admiralty.
In connection with the German am
bassador's communication it was re-
called here that three days after the
sinking of the Lusitania the ambas-
sador presented a note expressing the
sympathy and regret of his govern
ment for the loss of American lives.
There was no attempt, however, to
deny that the Lusitania had been sent
to the bottom with her passengers
without warning, and blame for the
disaster was placed upon the British
government. which permitted a vessel
carrying contraband to sail with pas
sengers, including neutrals
Postmaster General Burleson saw
President Wilson yesterday afternoon
ana received WOTu OF count Won Bern
storff's telegram. He said he hoped it
meant that Berlin was planning to
take action suitable to the United
States.
Il am man of peace" he added.
Thinks Situation Better.
Chairman Simmons of the Senate
finance committee. who saw President
Wilson today. said he believed the sit
uation looked much better as a result
of the message from Count Won Bern
storn
Il do not believe that the telegram
would have been sent unless the Ger
man government intended to meet the
position of the United States" said
Senator Simmons Il think the mes
sage shows that Germany does not
want to break with the United States"