Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-10

Slhiteis ooSShNCu Tic piSuSSo SiNSh ~
Germany to the United States govern
ment.
8. That all future submarine opera
tons will be conducted in conformity
with the assurances hitherto given.
Wilson Regrets u-Boat's Acts.
President Wilson. in reply to the
| ambassador:
l. Expressed regret that the U-boat
campaign had been extended to the At
lantic coast of the United States.
?. Declared that the sinking of the
ships in close proximity to the Amer
lean coast necessarily created bad
impression in the United States.
3. Announced that he was having
an investigation made and that if that
investigation should establish failure
to observe recognized principles of in
ternational law he would hold the Ber-
lin government to 1.-THE complete full
fillment of it's promises to this govern
ment," to quote the statement he is
sued before receiving the ambassador.
Basis For Peace Rumors.
Whether Count Won Bernstorff
brought up the question of peace dur
ing his conference with the president
cannot be learned. This correspondent
is in a position to state, however. that
Germany had had in mind some action
thu the government of the United
States which would, ii hoped. bring
about termination of the war.
The peace rumors. inspired by a
New York banker unquestionably were
based upon knowledge. President Will
son is perfectly willing to !e a me-
dunn of communication. but he is not
prepared to act as mediator.
Just what form the German pro-
posal will take is not known. Ambas-
sador Gerard arrived in New York
today. Undoubtedly he is aware of
Germany's desires and he will report
them to President Wilson during the
next few days
The understanding here is that the
first move will be to bring about a
cessation of hostilities. 1t is not be-
lieved the, allies will consent to any
thing OF the kind. and IL is taken for
granted the war will continue
Therefore it is the submarine issue
rather than possible peace that looms
up so threateningIy upon the Ameri-
can as we'll as the international hori-
Zon.
- U. S. Awaits Full Reports.
Although the presidents converse
ton with Count Won Bernstorff nat
urally was tentative in character. the
views expressed by Mr.. Wilson were
cabled last night to Berlin. Those
views will be the basis of subsequent
representations that undoubtedly will
be made by direction of the president
just as soon as full and complete re-
ports have been received by the navy
department from Rear Admiral Knight.
president OF the naval war college, and
Rear Admiral Gleaves. commanding
the torpedo f1otilla.
The reports made to the president
thru the navy department indicate
that all the pledges made by Germany
were observed--that is to say, vessels
were warned, passengers and crews
given time to get into the small boats
and then the ships were destroyed In
the case of the American ship Kansas
its papers were examined, and altho
under charter to the French govern
ment and carrying contraband, it was
allowed to proceed and hastily put into
Boston.
Says Pledges Observed.
Count Won Bernstorff called atten-
ton Of the president to the facts as
revealed by press dispatches and con-
firmed by the official naval reports. He
declared the pledges given had been
scrupulously observed and that the
submarine commanders had been par
ticularly careful to attack within a
short distance of the coast In order to
assure safety for all on board the
doomed vessels.
The fact that the operations were
conducted in one &or more instances
within plain sight of American de-
-stroyers was pointed to as evidence of
the care with which the U command
ers were observing the pledges made
to this government.
The German diplomat and those
aware of his views hold the United
States has no ground to complain that
the submarine operations took place
on the American side OF the Atlantic
They contend the open sea, stretching
from three mile limit to three mile
limit, is free and that their vessels
have the same right to operate against
enemy ships and enemy coptraband as
the British have to operate against
trade between Sweden and Germany
Point to v. S. Presidents.
Count Won Bernstorff also has called
attention to the report he received
that British warships patrolling the
Chesapeake capes steamed within the
three-mile limit for the purpose Of
sinking the submarine merchantmen
Deutschland. This report has been de-
MED by the London admiralty.
In any case, the German authorities
hold that the presidents established
by American vessels during the civil
war when confederate blockade run
ners were seized wherever found, JUS
tify the activity Of the U-boat Of
ficels.
In spite of these contentious. it is
the position of the United States. as
laid down in notes addressed TO the
British government. that the practice
of belligerent cruisers patrolling Amer
lean coasts in close proximity to the
territorial waters Of the United States
and making the neighborhood a station
for their observations was 'inconsist-
snt with the treatment to be expected
from the naval vessels Of a friendly
| power in time of war. "a
Calls Action Upcourteous.
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