The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-21
TALK OF MEDIATION
BERNSTORFF SAYS GERMAN RE-
PLY WAS TO PAVE WAY
FOR GENERAL AGREEMENT
Germans Want the United States to
Offer as Mediator Between Great
Britain and Germany, Thereby
Regulating Neutral Commerce and
Submarine Warfare.

Much interest was created in
WASHINGTON yesterday afternoon by
statement made by Secretary of State
Lansing, which seems to indicate an
amicable settlement of the issue with
Germany. He declared that the dis
pute with Germany over submarine
warfare might be settled by oral as
surances from the German govern
ment that the demands of the United
States government would be complied
with. If accepted this would obviate
the necessity of written promises.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, presented to Secretary
Lansing Friday the view that Ger
many's reply to the American note on
submarine warfare was intended to
pave the way for negotiations by the
United States with Great Britain as
we'll as Germany to adjust questions
that have arisen over contraband and
submarines as affecting the rights of
neutrals.
The German ambass dor for sew
eral days has been anxious to see
Secretary Lansing, but the secretary
expressed preference not to discuss
the German reply until he had eX-
amined it carefully.
Count Won BernStorff is confident
his government emphasized in the
last note it's willingness to work
hand in hand" with the American
government for the establishment of
| the freedom of the seas principle
| with the express purpose of entering
| into negotiations now on the entire
question of maritime warfare. He
sent through DR.. Anton Meyer-Ger-
ard the suggestion that the note
should contain such an intimation.
Having followed his suggestion, the
am mbassador is certain his govern
ment will accept tender Of good Of
fees for the mediation of the dis
putes. This would involve an accept
ance by Great Britain of the services
| of the United States as mediator to
bring about termination of the Brit
ish reprisal-the order in council
as well as German submarine attacks
ON merchantmen.
Officials of the American govern
| ment in the last few days have heard
reports concerning possible media
ton, but always have indicated that
negotiations along such lines could
be begun only if there were assur-
ances that German submarine COM
manders in the meantime would be
guided by the principles for which
the United States is contending-
| that Americans on unarmed ships
which do not resist capture be not
endangered. In official German quar-
tiers at Washington, however, empha-
sis is placed on the fact that Ger
many in the last month has not tor
pedoed even enemy ships without
warning, and that this practice prob
ably will be continued. In support
of this confidence German officials
drew attention to a statement given
out by the Overseas News Agency,
an official agency, in Berlin Wednes-
day, which said:
The loss of human life was re-
markably small, the submarines US
ling every precaution and giving am
pie warning and time for crews to
leave their ships if no resistance was
offered
Officials ct Washington who read
the statement admitted that if this
practice was continued, the principles
for which the United States asked as
surances in it's note of June would
be complied with to large extent.
While temporary abandonment OF
| the practice of attacking either
American or belligerent vessels with
out warning has considerably lessen
ed tension in Washington, the treat
ment the American government will
give to the Lusitania case in its next
note is causing much concern even
in German quarters.