New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-28
Will Demand Ending
of Entire Subma.
rine Question.
AIMS TO STOP
ATTACKS AT SEA
Germany's Full Compli-
anCe with Last LuSitania
. Note Is Expected.
ENVOY SEES LANSING
Won Bernstorff Renews Assur-
ance That His Country Desires
to Maintain Cordial Relations.
From The Tribune Bureau.

advances, as expressed in communl-
cations through Ambassador Gerard
and Count Won Bernstorff, are not
considered by President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing to be adequate to
the occasion, though both officials
are gratifed at Germany's apparent
desire to bring about an understand
ing, and believe there is a strong
probability that this will soon be
accomplished.
The President maintains that the
Arabic case must be settled in such
a way as to put an end to the con-
troversy over submarine warfare.
He bases his hope for a peaceful
adjustment on the belief that Ger
many will comply with the demands
of the last Lusitania note.
Nothing short Of explicit guaran-
tees that the sea rights of American
citizens will be respected will be
acceptable. While it is true that ad.
ministration officials interpret the
words of Chancellor Won Bethmann.
Hollweg and Foreign Minister Won
, Jagow as implying such assurances.
it can be stated on the highest au.
thority that the United States will
insist on having them in plain Ian.
guagc, susceptible of no equivocal
Interpretation.
Ambassador Sees Lansing.
Ambassador Won BernstorT called at
the State Department to-day and con-
versed with Secretary Lansing for
nearly half an hour. lie had received
no instructions from his government
other than the statement of the I'M
peral Chancellor, the substance Of
which had already been communicated
to this government by Ambassador
Gerard.
Germany has officially notified the
United States that submarine COM
manders have received certain instruc-
tions which are said to have been
violated if the Arabic was sunk in the
circumstances indicated in the reports
already published, but no clear indica-
tion is given of the exact nature OF
those instructions. The United States
government will insist that the Ger
man government explain this reference
to instructions, if not by an open dec
laration of the substance Of the in
structions themselves, at least by
clear statement Of their intended ef-
feet on the safety of American passen-
gers.
Secretary Lansing regards the evil
dence received in affidaYits from Amer
lean survivors Of the Arabic as very
convincing. II is believed that with
this hint the German government will
not try to justify the sinking of the
Arabic, unless it is prepared 70 sub
nit far stronger evidesce in support
of that contention than is now thought
possible.
To Bar Long Discussion.
Should Germany plead justification
for the attack on the Arabic. it would
be incumbent on the United States 10
accept or reject the plea, or to be
drawn into long discussion. The ac-
.1.- =. h
lieved to be out of the question, in
view of the evidence received at the
State Department, and officials already
have indicated that the government
does not purpose to discuss the ques-
tion automatically, but vii base its ac-
tion directly on the evidence, when 1t
is all in hand.
For this reason it is believed Ger
many will hasten to disayow the act Of
the submarine commander as soon as
he has reported This disavowsl will be
acceptable to the United States only il
it includes definite assurances that at
tacks on American sea rights will
cease.
In otter words, Germany must not
only clear up the Arabic case, but must
return an adequate answer 10 the de-
mands of the last American note. The
Lusitania affair must be definitely set
tied, indemnity offered and the rights
of American travellers guaranteed for
the future.
The Lrabi- case is regarded as far
more serious than that Of the Lusi-
tania.
In calling on Secretary Lansing this
morning Ambassador Won Bernstorh
acted without instructions from mis-
government. He left no memorandum
with the Secretary. but informed him
that Germany was sincerely desirous
OF continuing cordial relations with the
United States, and had already indi-
Gated that instT1ctions had been issued
r.