Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-11
REPLY IN ARABIC CASE
IS NOT SATISFACTORY
Germany Offers Explanation Whicl,
United States Can Scarcely
..cccpt.
MAY DECIDE CASE FOR ITSELF,
This Government Unable to Recon-
cile Defense Offered by Berlin With
Recent Assurances Given to Lam
sing by Bcrnstorfr.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.

wASliINGToN, September iO-Thc
sinking of tho Arabic by ~ German
submarine looms up again AZ AN Incl
dent which still may he denounced by
this government as Il deliberately un-
friendly act"
This possibility has caused Il revival
of the suggestion that diplomatic rcla-
tons with Germany may have TO he
broken off. The state Department has
yet no official information that Ger
many is about to send second note OF
explanation on tho incident.
The reply Of Germany on the Arabic
was received with amazement and dis
satisfaction by the highest officials of
the government II Was studied close
~ by State Department officials. and
the President himself considered IL for
several hours. 1t was ascertaincd that
the official text differed very slightly
from the text as published in the news
papers.
The general comment is tina, Ger
many has made vcr3 serious mistake
by Offering an explanation which can
scarcely be accepted. Officials were
not slow to point out tina, all accounts.
except those from German sources.
stated that the German submarine was
not seen at all aud. therefore. the in
ference was strong against the story
that tho Arabic changed her course
for the purpose OF ramminS the sub
marine.
ANSWER FROM GERMANY
NOT EXACTLY CLEAR
At tho State Department it was ad-
tuieted that Gcrinany's note is hardly
clear Officials were unable 10 recon
Gle the defense offered with the re-
cent assurances to Secretary Of state
Lansing that Germany would give full
satisfaction to tho United states If it
we're proved that a German submarine
sank the Arabic. Instead Of that, Ger
many has set Up the defense that the
Arabic attempted 10 ram the subna-
r,nc. and has indicated that tho COM
mandcr evidently had no proof of that
theory. except his own conviction that
such was tho intention Of the liner.
The ono thing which state Depart
ment officials understand in the Ger
man note is that this government is
requested TO submit to The Hague for
arbitration the question whether Ger
many is liable for indemnity for the
loss of American lives on the Arabic.
The United states viii gather all tho
information possible from the sur
ish official record II Will also obtain
everything possible from German
sources. Then IL must either decide
the case for itself on comparison of
this evidence. or agree TO the PROPOSE
ton that the evidence must be sub
mittcd to The Hague tribunal
EXPECTED TO UNDERTAKE
DECISION FOR ITSELF
The prepondcrancc of opinion to-
night is that the United States VIII
undertake the decision itself. Little
doubt is entertained that this govern
mes will decide In favor of the evil
dence obtained from the people on the
Arabic This would mean that the
United States will hold that the liner
Mas attacked without warning. and
without provision being made for the
noncomba Atlantis.
such decision. officials say. must
he followed by note to the German
government that the state Department
regards tho whole incident Of the
Arabic ar deliberately unfriendly act.
Officials do not predict what would be
tho result OF such a note To Germany.