Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-02

that. after the sinking OF the Arabic. a
German submarine had been destroyed
!. no1r the scene OF the disaster. Am
tdavits have been received at the State
Department that survivors Of the
= steamer Dunsiey, which was attacked
before the Arabic, saw an unidentified
submarine
As the statement OF Count Won Bern
storf- is reflective OF Gernanys atti-
3 tG6e on the Lusitania, and the United
States government has expressed it's
4 satisfaction with the principles OF that
q statement. the question of PREPARATION"
for lives lost on the Arabic and LuSi-
tania Will now proceed. probably by
some means of diplomatic arbitration 10
4 which the United States committed it
! sol: in the case of the William Il. Frye.
Perhaps the most important sugEes-
tion OF the letter OF Ambassador Bern
s,orft is Its references 10 the case Of the
Arabic. The note reveals two things as
10 this case:
First-That President Wilson regard
ell a settlement of that matter as con-
iition precedent TO further discussions
with Germany on the Lusitania
Second-That the skillful phras!nc of
the am5a ssador's letter reveals that
there can be now no danger OF acute
controversy between this government
and Germany over the Arabic incident
ACT WILL BE DISANoWED
IF MANDATE WAS DISoBEIED
|, is clear from the fact that Ger
many had instructed her commanders
TO warn liners and protect their passen-
gers from death before the Arabic Incl
dent that If the commander of the sub
marine did not comply with the require
ments both OF the United States and
Germany. Germany will disavow the
act OF her submarine commander and
make reparat!on for American lives lost
on that vessel Conversely. if ii be
shown that the Arabic was warned and
thai she tried 10 escape or resist. Ger
man responsibility Will have disap.
peared to large extent.
The frank declaration by the German
government that the commander of the
submarine III the Arabic case had the
proper instructions discounts any prob
ability of further trouble over this in
cidcnt. which the United States govern
rent regarded as the most serious of
all the issues with Germany. II was
SO regarded because the Arabic was
sunk after the last note Of the United
States on the Lusitania, which stated
that repetitions of such acts as those
against the Lusitania would be regard
ell a 6 deliberately unfriendly." In fine.
the prospect of breaking off diplomatic
relations with Germany and continued
merace Of more serious conflict, etc.
has disappeared.
Secretary of State Lansing was not
able or willing to state whether the
word liner" included all passenger YES
sells and freight vessels on which there
might he non comhatants Most Off
Gals seem TO think that the broader ac-
/. ceptancc of the word was justifable
and that the full text Of the note from
Germany will show that she means she
Viii not destroy the lives Of ANY nom
colnbatant on any unresisting vessel
without strict compliance with the
terms OF international law.
Mr.. Lansing indicated that even
where American citizens signed as
ESembers OF the crew of neutral YES |
kc's. but had not enlisted in a military
Sc, their case would be covered by
irrational law as understood now by
many and held by the United
s.