Evening star., 1915-06-08

Continued from First Page)
first American note-that the Lusitania
was unarmed-
At the same time, Myer Gerhard. per-
sonal envoy of Count Won Bernstorn.
the German ambassador, has been voy-
aging nearer to Germany, carrying i'm
portant messages from the German
embassy concerning the American point
of view on submarine warfare. The
latter circumstance. however. was de-
clared in high official quarters to have
been merely coincidence and In no
way to have Influenced the progress OF
the note.
When the document Is finally made
public, officials stated. 1t would not
only satisfy American public opinion,
but would place squarely before Ger
many the issue as to whether the I'M
perial government intends to adhere
TO hitherto accepted principles of in
ternational law on maritime warfare.
The President has been displeased
by the numerous detailed accounts that
have been published OF what the note
would contain when he himself had
not yet settled finally on its contents:
He is anxious that misconceptions OF
the position of the United States shall
not be cabled abroad. and that the
American people shall suspend tudg-
ment until they read the text of the
document
Hope for Adjustment.
To what extent the German viewpoint
here regarding the situation between
the United States and Germany is the
same. as that held at Berlin is not clear
as yet, but certainly the general view
in German quarters here is that the
recent trend of events gives hope of
friendly adjustment This ie based not
alone on the probable course OF the
German side of the negotiations. but
also on the American course. which IL
regarded as developing along lines
which will permit of a satisfactory
conclusion.
The most promising formula for
solution. according to the German
viewpoint, is one which would combine
Lusitania as an armed or unarmed
ship and also a general agreement
guaranteeing immunity from attack
hereafter to all unarmed ships carry
ing passengers.
Case Of the Lusitania.
AZ to the Lusitania the German posi-
ton thus far has been that she was an
armed ship according to the informa-
tion in their possession. But when the
United States government states def
nitely that it's Official information shows
the ship was unarmed. then it is sug-
be in a position to accept this positive
assurance from friendly government
notwithstanding any report to the con-
trary.
The recent Won Jagow note, 1t is
pointed out. was predicated on the view
that the Lusitania was an armed ship.
but did not assert the principle that
unarmed passenger ships could be
similarly sunk. It IL maintained.
therefore, that the principle Of i'm
munity to unarmed passenger ships
is one which could be accepted by
Germany as consistant with her atti-
tude up to this time and would give
the largest measure of protection to
Americans in the future.
Such an agreement on the status of
the Lusitania and the principle to gov
ern unarmed passenger ships, ii is
generally admitted. would pave the
way for a much wider adjustment of
all the various conflicts which have
arisen over American ships and the
safety Of the seas, and the hope is
expressed that this larger adjustment
might even in turn lead to the supreme
question of bringing the warning ma
tiOns to peace.