The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-05-19
Won JAG0W GETS i
AMERICAN NOTE
But May Not Reply For a
Week Yet.
ARBITRATION IS NOW limited
No Submarine Attacks On
Passenger Vessels While
the Matter Hangs.
u. S. STANDS FIRMLY ON RIGHTS

Washington, May 15.-Word that
Ambassador Gerard had read and
presented to Herr Won Jagow, Min
lister for Foreign Affairs of the I'M
perial German Government, the
American note sent Thursday as a
consequence of the Lusitania trag-
edy, and other occurrences in the
war zone, removed all anxiety here
over the delay in transmission and
awakened intense interest in the ma
ture of Germany's reply.
r In view of telegraphic and cable
delays and the probable necessity
for conferences between the Foreign
Minister, the Imperial Chancellor,
Won Bethmann Hollweg, and doubt
less Emperor William himself, 1t
would not be considered surprising
here if the response did not arrive
for another eight days. 1t was be-
lieved possible, however. that Am
bassador Gerard might report ear
lier. on the manner in which the
American note was received by the
Government and the semi-official
press.
In the interim confidence prevails
among high officials and is shared
in German official quarters that
there will be no submarine attacks
on passenger vessels while the ques-
lions at issue are being. resolved,
The intimation which came in
press dispatches to-day indirectly
from Berlin to the effect that Ger
many would willingly submit the
question raised by the American
note to arbitration was received
with much interest and it was indi-
Gated that if there was suspen-
sion of submarine warfare on mer-
chant ships while the discussion
was in progress, the plan might be
given serious consideration by the
American Government.
Arbitration also had been talked
of here before to-day's press dis
patches arrived. Some German Off
cials had intimated that although
without advices from Berlin, they
were confident from previous knowl-
edge of the desire of the German
Government to remain friendly
with the United States, that arbitra-
ton would be welcomed. The diff
ficulty of constituting court of ar
bitration at this time when most Of
the great Powers whose participa-
ton might be desired are at war
was pointed out by some diplomat
lists, however, as making the plan
impracticable.
That some way would be found
TO reach an amicable settlement be-
tween the United States and Ger
many was the growing conviction of
many officials and diplomatists to-
day. A number of suggestions were
heard.
One which was given serious
thought was proposal to refuse
clearance to belligerent ships carry
ing munitions of war or absolute
contraband IL they also carried pas
sengers. This would involve no en-
barge, but a separation of passen-
ger and contraband traffic.
The United States stands firmly
on the legal right of its citizens to-
travel ON any ships and believes its
position is indisputable. Germany,
however, holds that this has become
a debatable question on account Of
changed conditions. and II the two
classes of ocean-going traffic wPre
separated, submarines would direct
their attention to contraband ships
alone.
The objection to this, however, In
the opinion of some officials, is that
the plan still would not provide for
the humane treatment which inter-
national law prescribes for the crew
of a vessel carrying contraband and
making no resistance. to visit and
search or any attempt TO run block
ade, To torpedo without warning
or even to give time for the crew
OF a vessel carrying contraband to
get into small boats, IL was pointed
out, would leave them to the mercy
of the high seas unless big boat
happened TO be nearby. Ths is the
.,..,.to. taLan a. the American nofa