Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-25
PUBLISHED DAILY.
GERMANY WANTS
TO BE HEARD.

The strain upon freSluenI Whsoi!
was considerably relieved yesterday
when the United States was requested
by Germany to Withhold action until
all the facts in connection with the
destruction of the British steamer
Arabic shall have been obtained. The
communication smacked of the apollo
getic, and those in position to know
think that this last cause of friction
between America and he Kaiser Will
be settled and that rupture of rela-
tons is improbable. The firm stand
taken by President Wilson doubtless
brought Germany to her senses.
Count Won .Bernstorf, the German
Ambassador, yesterday forwarded to
the State Department Instructions
which he had received from his gov
ernment.
The Berlin foreign office says that
it has not yet received report on the
sinking of the Arabic, asks the Unit
ed States to suspend judgment unit!
the German side of the incident has
been heard, expresses doubt as to the
accuracy of the British reports, and
concludes with these two significant
sentences:
eff Americans should actually have
lost their lives, this would naturally
be contrary to our intentions. The
German government would deeply re-
gret the fact and beg to tender sim
cerest sympathies to the American
government.
The happy effect of this communica-
ton was Immediately apparent in ali
official quarters in Washington. No
formal comment was made by the
American authorities, but it was evid-
ent that the Bernstorff dispatch mad
aroused strong hope that the way was
opening for some settlement of this
latest German attack upon American
life without break in diplomatic re-
lations and the risk of open hostilities.
1t was again made clear that there
is no abatement of the Presidents de-
termination to sever diplomatic rela-
tions with the Kaiser's government if
the circumstances of the White Star
liner turn out as they now appear 10
he and if Germany fails to disavow
the act of her submarine commander.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
Ambassador has let it be kno'"
through representative, in New Io~i
that he will use every effort within his
power to prevent break between
8 the United States and Germany.
The Ambassador said the following
representations will be made to the
sident:
1. Since the diplomatic converse
tions between Germany and the Unit
ed States regarding the Frye, the Gul-
flight and the Cushing. Germany has
not interfered with single ship flying
the American flag.
9. Every possible official precau-
ton has been taken by the German
government to prevent attacks on
British merchantmen on which Amer!-
cans were known to be passengers.
8. 1t is not known publicly thai
Americans were on board the Arabic.
because the passenger list and the
date of sailing had been Kept secret
by the White Star Company.
A. That express orders have been
given by the German admiralty to
submarines commanders that they
must give adequate notice to all pas
senger ships before attacking them;
and that if German submarine sank
the Arabic without warning, its offic-
ers acted in direct violation of the or
ders of Superiors.
The Ambassador was clearly anN-
ious over persistent reports that the
administration contemplated an IN
mediate severance Of dilomatic rela-
tons il it is proven that 4 submarine
sank the Arabic without warning IL
anyway
The Ambassador wired Washington
from the summer embassy at Cedar
hurst earnestly requesting the United
States government not to take final
stand until every fact relating to the
Arabic had been established.
The ambassador is quoted as hav-
ing said:
Germany has consulted with no
other power regarding taking over
the diplomatic affairs of Germany
with the United States, because be-
l!eve it absolutely impossible there