Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-16

demands OF the United states that she
cease her submarine warfare against
vessels carrying noncombatants. The
belief appears TO be general that she
Will seek to effect compromise.
3 The publication OF the views of n
high diplomatic authority. re-cnforced
ispy the statement OF an official of the
Estate Department, outlining the plan
(which, In their opinion. was the only
sbasis on which the question could he
:settled dploma,ically. caused wide
spread interest. and was favorably re-
seeived.
\ In the opinion OF these authorities,
germany will consent to discontinue
submarine warfare against passenger
iyessels, If in return the United States
Twill see TO it tina, the passenger vessels
Sdo not carry arms or ammunition.
s y strong intimation that such a sug-
question would he well received by this
$government was contained in the
fguarded comment of high official OF
lthe State Department who said it was
feasible
This official admitted that the prin-
cipal question would he the power OF
the United states 10 prevent passenger
vessels carrying explosives. from leav-
ing ports OF this country. He said that
the only certain way. in his opinion.
would be TO have Congress pass "A law
giving the government that authority.
Other officials thought this would not
he necessary. The opinion was adj
vanced that President Wilson, ny
stretching existing authority a trifie.
could direct customs officials to refuse
clearance papers To all passenger yes
sells carrying munitions of war in any
form. One official expressed the view
that the simplest way would be 10
amend the existing law prohibiting the
transportation of explosives on passen-
ger trains. so that 1t would include pas
senGer steamships. The reason for the
restriction regarding the transporta-
tion OF explosives on trains is that It
endangers the lives Of passengers and
In his opinion Il would apply equally
we'll to steamships.
: ARBITRATION PLAN
SUGGESTED IN BERLIN
Considerable interest was also dis
played in dispatches from Berlin that
tho newspaper Nossische Zcitung had
printed Il statement that high govern
ment officials in Germany favor SUBJ
hitting the Lusitania matter and the
difficulties with America to a court of
arbitration,"' and that Amba ssado
BernstOrff may be given immediate in
structons to suggest this plan TO the
United States.
No comment on this suggestion could
be obtained from officials Of the State
Department or the German embassy 1t
was pointed out unof1icially. however,
that suoh n plan would result in end
less delay, and would not be likely TO
meet with the approval OF this gov
eminent According to views expressed
to-day In well-informed circles Count
Won Bernstorff, the German ambassa-
dor, is impressinG the officials OF his
government that the people OF the
United States do not want war, and by
acting intellectually and generously
in this matter the German government
will do good deal toward improving
the sentiment of Americans regarding
the German cause. The ambassador is
said to have informed his government
that the people OF the United States are
behind the President in his demand be-
lieving he seeks the upholding of the
international law.
The unexpected delay in the trans
mission OF the note TO Berlin means
that reply cannot be looked for
until the end OF next week. Considera-
bile concern was displayed at the State
Department to-day regarding the de-
lay. 1t was suggested in some quar-
ters that the delay was intentional.
and due TO the interest OF some per-
sons or agencies in widening the breach
between this government and Germany
by putting the United States in the po-
s!tion Of sighting the German govern
ment.
The effect of the delay was 10 upse,
the plan OF mis- government TO with
hold the note FROM publication until IL
had been received in Berlin AS ii is.
the note was Published. in this country
and In Eng!and at. least twenty four
hours before IL was received by the
German government The State De-
partment sent several urgent messages
to Rome TO ascertain the cause of the
delay. IT is probable Ambassador
Page will make thorough investica-
ton. Until the result OF Ambassador
Pages inquiries are known. the State
Department takes the view that the
delay was due 20 congestion on the
Italian telegraph lines.