New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-11
GrOundSforJuStifying
Sinking Regarded
as FIimsy.
SEE ATTEMPT
TO DODGE ISSUE
Officials Say Only SUBJ
marine Orders Can
Show Good Faith.
AWAIT SECOND NOTE
Believe Germans Seek to Count
eract Effects of Present
Message.
tFror rhs Tribune Burrsu.j

lfVm Inc Irioune buresuI
Washington, Sept. l0.-The Ger
man governments note in the Arabic
case is unsatisfactory and disap-
pointing. This is the unanimour
opinion among officials here. r-..;ot
only does it fail to meet the Arabic
issue squarely, but what Is most
sought, it fails to provide defni-
ton of Germany's submarine policy.
When Secretary Lansing told AM
bassador Bernstorff that he insisted
on the settlement Of the Arabic case
before the Lusitania question was
taken up, it was the understanding
that Germany would declare without
room for doubt that it would comply
with international law.
Instead the German government
has evaded this issue entirely, and
has endeavored to justify the torpe-
doing of the Arabic on what are
regarded fimsy grounds, despite the
hint given to Ambassador BernstorR
by Secretary Lansing that the evi-
dence that the Arabic was sunk
without justification was convincing.
References in the note 10 the
orders issued to the German COM
mander are regarded as vague and
unsatisfactory. The administration
had hoped, from Count Won Bern
storff's letter to Secretary Lansing
short time ago, that Germany
would furnish this government with
copy Of the actual instructions, or
would give their consent In such I
form that the United States would
be able to deal with Germany on a
basis of complete frankness. In
stead, the note gives even less in
formation than did the ambassadors
letter, and in certain ways it appears
even to renounce a part of the assure
ances already given.
Expect Statement Soon.
Thus the crisis In the German sltua-
ION has again become acute. officials
believe. President Wilson issued
statement Immediately after the attack
on the Arabic, in which he said tho
course OF the government would be de-
cided as soon as all the facts in the
case were at hand. This was UNDER
stood to mean both the affidayits OF
American survivors and the statement
Of the German government. All this
has been received, and 1t Is expected
Secretary Lansing will announce the
administrations position within a very
short time.
In view of the utter disagreement be-
tween the two governments both on the
facts and the principle involved, II Is
difficult to see how a dissgreesble and
possibly dangerous situation can be
avoided.
lad Germany given satisfactory as
surance as to her naval instructions
the question of principle would have
been regarded as settled, leaving only
the minor point of indemnity which
the United States, under such circum-
stances, would have submitted to ar
bitration, or had Germany given satis-
faction on the point of fact the way
would have unquestionably been opened
70 consideration OF the Lusitania
case. The fact that Germany returns
a satisfactory answer On neither point
gives no common ground on which to
meet.
Reports from Berlin that a supple
mentary note is on the way have been
received with much interest officials
believe il must already be apparent to
/ the German government that the note
/ lust received could not satisfy the
State Department, and are inclined to
credit the rumor. No dispatch confirm
ing il has been received at the departs
ment.
Germany Dodging issue.
II is recalled that Secretary Lansing
recently informed Count Won Bernstorn
that as evidence Of good faith the
German government should make =
plain, unequivocal statement OF its po-
sition on the submarine question IN
formal note. defining IN unmistsksols
terms the orders that had been I'M
nosed on the undersea boats. Tho
failure TO respond to this demand has
created a suspicion that Germany Is
deliberately avoiding the issue.
The language Of the German note n
making the proposal Of arbitration u
/ obscure
The issue Is undoubtedly whether
the Arabic was attempting TO ram ths
submarine, and is therefore purely on'
OF fact Germany proposes 70 arbl
trate IL "as being a question OF infer