The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-25
Ambassador Won BernstOrff
Sends Message Express
ing Regrets.
SUSPEND JUDGMENT
IS REQUEST TO L. S.
Some Think Note Hints
Submarine Commander
DisObeyed New Rule.
DISAVOWAL DOT BTED.
But CRISIS MAY END
Officials Think Germany
Now Realizes Seriousness
of Situation.

wAsHIHGToN. Aug. 2i.-The hrst
ray OF hope in the crisis that mas
arisen between the United states and
Germany over the sinking of the Ara
bic came to-day, when Count Won
Bernstorff the German Ambassador,
forwarded to the state Department
instructions whilh he had received
from his Government.
The Berlin Foreign Office says 1t
has not yet received report on the
sinking of the Arabic, asks the United
States to suspend Judgment until the
German side of the incident has been
heard, expresses doubt as To the accu-
racy of the British reports end con-
Cludes with these two significant sem
tences:
II Americans should actually have
lost their lives. this would naturally
he contrary to our Intentions. inc
German Government would deeply re.
gret the fact and beg To tender sin.
cerest sympathies TO the American
Government.
The effect of this communication
was Immediately apparent in all Of
: fetal quarters in Washington No
formal comment was made by the
American authorities. but 1t was evil
dent that the Bcrnstorff dcspatCh had
aroused strong hope that the way is
/ opening for a settlement OF this latest
! German attack upon American life
/ without break in diplomatic rela-
/ tions and the risk of open hostilities.
President Won't Back Down.
1t was again made clear that there
is no abatement Of the Presidents Ce-
: termination To sever diplomatic rela-
tons with the Kaisers Government
if the circumstances Of the White star
liners sinking turn out as they ap-
pear to be and If Germany fails To dis
avow the act of her submarine COM
mander. At the same time, it was
made known a-ain to-day that the
President is willing to go as far as he
can consistently with the honor and
dignity of the United States to avoid
rupture with Germany. In other
words, the President is determined to
stand by his previous warnings to
Germany and to take no backward
step. and he looks to Germany either
to disavow the attack upon the Ara
bic or TO present an explanation that
Will satisfy this Government,
The chief significance of the Ger
man communication, as viewed by
Washington officials, is that it indi-
Gates clearly that Germany desires to
avoid trouble with the United States
and is prepared I, 90 To a considerable
length to prevent IT, This alone was
encouraging information for Wash
ington officials, for there had been
considerable doubt in their minds
since the sinking OF the Arabic
whether Germany had not assumed
. an attitude Of indifference toward the
warnings Of the United States and de-
Cided to carry on It's submarine cam
paign in the old way, regardless of
consequences.
The instructions forwarded by
Count Won Bernstorf to the 5 ate De-
partment also indicate clearly as in
terpreted by Washington. that Ger
many finally has realized the serious
ness of the situation which she is fac
ing as the result of the submarine
controversy with the United States.
This feature of the communication
also was reGardcd hopefully by the
authorities here, for it has been con-
tended that Germany up to this time
had refused to believe that the United
states would actually risk going to
mar In dcfpDcp of the priuC niles in :
volvcd in the submarine controversy.