Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-12-09
NOTE ON
SUB QUESTION To
CO To GERMANY
State Department Wishes to
Clear Up Differences Of In
depreciation Regarding the
Pledges in Sussex Case,

~ hbhHlHN JOURNAL tFhAlhA ItNAtb "if'hl
Washington, Dec S.-More definite
information as to the facts involved
in recent activities by German sub
marines has brought the situation to
a point where new note TO Germany
designed TO clear up any doubt as to
the Interpretation Of the Berlin gov
ernments submarine pledges to the
United States, appears TO be among
the possibilities Of the near future.
President Wilson has given careful
attention to the evidence in the eases
Of several Of the vessels recently at
tackled but has given no indication Of
what his decision will be-
The cases IN the forefront Of con-
sideration are those Of the British
steamers Arabia and Marina, both Of
which Germany contends were be-
lieved 20 be transports in the naval
service Of the allies. During the day
official Information reached the state
department establishing that the Ma
rina, on which six Americans were
lost. was in no sense a transport, and
an inquiry was addressed to Great
Britain FOR information as to the ae
tual status of the Arabia.
Germany Offers Amends.
While administration officials re-
main silent, those in close touch with
affairs in Teutonic diplomatic circles
deprecate any suggestion that rela-
tons between the two countries are
approaching a crisis. They point out
that Germany already has offered to
make amends if her submarine com
manders are shown 10 have been mis-
taken in considering the vessels trans
ports
on the other hand the United States
said in the Sussex note that mistakes
that endangered American life ON
peaceful vessels. were not to be toll
Grated
Although the state department has
been going on the principle Of decid-
ing each case separately on its mer-
its, 1t was said today that the number
Of cases had reached such proportions
that some general action would be
justified although IT was made clear
that nothing had been determined
upon.
The days developments in the sit
uation were:
The United states asked Great Bri-
tain for information to determine the
status of the =. and O. liner Arabia,
which a German submarine com
mander took for an armed transport.
Official information coming to the
state department established that the
British ship Marina, torpedoed with a
loss Of six Americans, was in no sense
transport and was entitled to the
immunities OF u peaceful merchant
man, In both cases Germany has ex-
pressed willingness to offer amends
if her pledges were broken
1t was reiterated again today that
the United States stands squarely on
the position it took in the Sussex
case This, combined with Gcrmany's
statement that she, too, holds to the.
pledges she gave in that case, leads
officials to declare there seems to be
the same differences in interpretations,
A new note, il it should be decided
to send one. would be to clear this up
and make plain beyond question that
the United states expects all merchant
ships, under International law, shall
not be destroyed without warning or
having crews and passengers removed
to places Of safety.
Affidavits on the sinking without
warning Of the italian liner Palermo
on which state department records
show there were twenty-three Ameri-
cans, are being collected as rapidly as
possible As Yet there are no indica-
lions that any American lives We're
lost but from information at hand, the
case seems to parallel closely the
Arabia and the Marina.