The Washington times., 1915-08-27
German Government
Making Every Effort
To Preserve Peace

BERLIN. Aug. N.-The German gov
eminent is making every EFFORT to
maintain its friendly relation with the
United States. and 1t is believed here
that the difficulties raised by the sink
ing Of the Arabic will be solved salts
factorily to America.
The imperial chancellors disclaimer
Is believed to have ended the crisis.
carrying with It. as 1t does, the promise
OF repudiation of the deed and compen-
sation.
Ambassador Gerard has dispatched a
lengthy coded message to Washington,
and 1t appears to be significantly op-
tinistic that the foreign office also ex-
hibits a distinct air Of relief.
Manner Is Different.
The manner of the German authorities
10 strikingly different from what 1t was
during the interchange Of Lusitania
notes. when the Germans were abso-
lutely convinced Of the righteousness
of the submarines action in sinking tb 9
Cunarder and were prepared to stand
their ground regardless Of the conse-
quences.
In the Arabic case. however. the state
Of mind Of the authorities is quite DIFF
ferent. and a spirit Of genuine good
will and conciliation pervades official
circles. 1t Is possible that this IL in
duced In part by the succession OF east
ern victories, eliminating In the fall Of
Brest-Litovsk. There Is no denying
that the Germans are feeling good as a
result Of these victories. and are in a
frame Of mind to go at diplomatic ex-
changes along common-sensc lines.
tain quarters to cling to the hope the
Arabic struck a floating mine or COM
mitted a hostile act. but even IL this
cannot be proved the general feeling
here is that sufficient extenuating cir
cumstances will be shown to excuse
the torpedoing as regrettable ac-
cident and that the Arabic case can be
settled automatically with or without
an apology.
Not deliberately Unfriendly."
Imperial Chancellor Won Bethmann-
principal facts:
caused by German submarine. was
not a deliberately unfriendly" act,
but. If the version of the incident as
published proves to be true. it was the
arbitrary act Of a submarine com
mander. an act not only not sanction
ed but decidedly condemned by the
German government;
That Germany Is anxious to meet
the demands set forth in President
Wilson's last and original Lusitania
notes.
That since the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania the German admiralty has done
all In its power to prevent recur-
renee Of such disaster and in fact
has taken specific steps to prevent
danger to American passengers;
That the German government Is most
tpt int0 oaI
friendly relations with the American
Government;
Willing To Express Regret.
That. II the Arabic was sent to the
bottom by a German submarine under
circumstances such as testified to BY
scores OF passengers and published In
the foreign press. Germany will ex.
press its deep regret over the inciden,
and will be ready to make full repara.
tion.
Simultaneous with the clear Gu,
declaration Of the foregoing facts by
DR.. Won Bethmann Hollweg to Ameri.
can newspaper correspondents. came
the Information that Ambassador Ger
ard has sent a long code message tc
reporting on the results Of his In
quiries at the foreign office and .
lengthy conversation with foreign
Minister Won Jagow.
To interviewers the American am.
bassador expressed his conviction -hat
the Arabic's destruction will not resul,
in break between America and Ger.
MANY.
The imperial chancel!ors statement
follows. in full:
rounding the sinking Of the Arabic have
not been fully cleared up, It is impos.
sible for me to make q definite state
ment. Thus far We have received nc
report about 1t.
Now. we do not even know whethe,
the sinking of the ship was caused b,
mine or by a torpedo fred from
German submarine. nor do we know
whether in this latter case. the Arabic
hen. herself ms NAV ,ntIe not 5y her actions per
the commander Of the submar rine.
Only after all these circumstance.
have been cleared up will! 1t be possible
to saw whether the commander OF on,
stuctions. in which case the imperia
government would not hesitate to civ,
such complete satisfaction to the United
states as would conform to the friendl,
relations existing between the two gov
ernments."
Denies WantOn Attack.
I'VE know with certainty that. n,
German submarine attacked the Arabi
unless she was compelled to do so b,
the steamers attitude" declared tin
Frankfort Gazette. whose Berlin CORE
spondent is very close to high govern
ment officials. In a brief comment today
The Gazette referred to English report
that Ameri>a is excited over the Arabi
incident. and added:
English reports are so confuse
that 1t Is not clear whether the as
sumption is permitted either that tn
Arabic was not torpedoed at all, bu
ran upon a mine. or that the sui
marine was attacked before firin
the fatal torpedo"
The Vossische Zeftung printed a r,
port from a New York newspaper {
July "a, telling about the rife pfa cite
OF the Arabic's crew. This newsDape
according to the Vossische Zeitung sa
that floating imitation submarines wei
used as targets. and that passenger
said the sailors and stewards were alb
to hit the 'periscope" of the DUNN
submarines at a distance OF half
mile. During one OF her ocean triI
the members of this rifle club" pra
ticed In an improvised shooting CALLER
The Berlin newspaper repeated Il
story first published In New York new
papers that the Arabic was painted Il
same color as English warships, al
that a barricade of sandbags protect'