The Washington times., 1915-09-06
Administration Waits
For Authentic Details
President and Lansing Suspend Judgment on Sinking
of Hesperan Until All Facts of the Case Are
Known Definitely.

Awaiting more complete reports on
the submarine attack upon the Allan
liner Hesperian. President Wilson and
Secretary OF State Lansing Suspended
judgment and action.
The incident did not bring Secretary
Lansing to the State Department today.
nor did White House attaches seem
worried.
OFFICIALS said It was most fortunate
sse s aBs Of
rine warfare. They expressed belief
that this pledge was given in good
faith This being true. they expected a
seTfiSsssstory TSsrs explsnas,on; :o.ns ,.,,
liner was torpedoed. Some thought It
The United Press dispatch from Am
sterdam saying. Germany would dis
quarters with great satisfaction.
The suggestion that the U.poAt might
have left port before the new instruc-
prise. however. II. as Germany con-
tended unwarned attacks on passenger
vessels were never countenanced. why.
1t was asked. were new Instructions
necessary. The only answer su~eested
perhaps in the nature Of a special,
stringent reminder.
To the State Departments request for
details from Ambassador Page. London.
no answer had been received.
Absence OF the tension and uncon-
cealed anxiety which followed tho sink
ing Of the Arabic today marked tho
receipt of the news OF the Hesperlan in
cident. Officisldom did not discount tho
gravity OF tho new submarine attack,
as bearing upon tho prospective settle
of hia
Germany over her submarine warfare
was that It WAS inconceivabie that
Germany. In attacking the liner. re-
pudiated her formally expressed prom
ise to have submarines warn passenger
liners before attacking them
arrangements were made TODAY for
an early conference between Secretary
Lansing and Ambassador Won Bernstorfi.
the latter being scheduled to arrive
here during the day.
May Cause Hitch.
This unfortunate affair, coming lust
at the time when n4erman-American re-
lations were Frightening. may prove
sufficiently grave to cause a hitch in
the diplomatic negotiations arising out
OF the 1.usitania and Arabic cases. In
deed. there is hot lacking a fear that
those negotiations may be thrown high
INTO the air by the attack on the Hes
perian.
Under the circumstances. 1t is felt in
Administration quarters that when all
the iacts are brought to light, it will
be shown there. were conditions which
may nave led the submarine command
er to believe the attack justified.
POINTS on which accurate informa ton
is wanted are: Whether warning was
given the Hespefian;. whether she
ence. mounted and visible on the stern,
OF 4.7-inch rifle could be construed as
giving any warrant for the attack.
Question of Fact.
Also there is the question of fact as
to whether the Hesperian was torpe-
doed or struck a mine. 1t may prove
difficult, II not impossible, to clear up
this point, especially II the German gov
ernment insists one Of its submarines
did not make the attack.
The Hesperian carried small con-
home. but It is felt here that neither
this fact nor the presence Of a single
defensive gun would make the vessel. in
international Intern tiS law other than an un-
The Hesperian case gains additional
Importance from the fact that 1t may
bring to still more acute issue the
question whether this Government Is
lection of crews Of merchant ships as
on protection OF passengers.
No American .......:, -: :. crs.
According to dispatches. there were
no American passengers on the Hes
perian, but there were two ships
stewards who were American citizens.
They were saved. Nevertheless, " their
lives were placed in jeopardy by failure
to warn. or live up to the requirements
Of international law. the offense
against this Government. in principle. Is
the same.
The State Departments attitude has
been that the American who went to
sea on a peaceful merchantmen in pur-
suance Of his vocation was deserving
of even more complete protection than
the American passenger who was at
sea for his own pleasure or satisfaction.
Regardless OF the fact, therefore. that
no American lives are lost. an Issue Of
foremost Importance Is raised.
No Rupture Expected.
1t is not believed here that this case
will actually result in a rupture with
Germany. But Il Is feared 1t may In
terfere with the negotiations which last
week looked extremely hopeful.
That this Government cannot permit
itself to be satisfied with oral protes sta
tions from Germany on the submarine
question or with anything but the most
explicit assurances. Is one thing made
plain BY the attack. Moreover. 1t u