Arizona republican., 1916-01-08
Communications Reaching United States Indicate America and Germ any Near Agreement on Con duct of Submarine War
Republican A. p. Leased wire1


 WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Two com E1uications from Germany reached the United States today-one containing a proposal to pay an indemnity for the Americans lost in the Lusitania dis aster which may bring negotiations on that subject to a conclusion, and the other conveying assurances that German submarine commanders oper- ating in the Mediterranean would not torpedo non -combatant ships of any character without warning them and according safety to their passengers and crew.
 The communications were delivered to Secretary Lansing by Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassador. The secretary immediately sent them to President Wilson.
 Official Washington tonight con- sidered that Americaa and Germany Tt last were near a final agreement on the conduct of submarine warfare. Officials made no attempt to con ceal their qualification at the attitude Germany had apparently assumed. u was considered to be virtually in harmony with the American viewpoint
 Tension regarding the entire sub marine question seemed to have les sened considerably. Austria in it's reply to the last Ancona note. having assured the United States of it's in- tentions to operate submarines with uoe regard for international law and the principles of humanity. Turkey ana Bulgaria, 1t is undrstood next will take steps to give such guar antees. It is stated authoritatively that Germany and Austria Hungary Will use their influence to arcompus.l this end.
 The Lusitania controversy except for the wording of the agreement to be entered 1nto. Is considered in Teu- tonic ciLcles here virtually ended.
 Under the terms Of the proposal submitted for the approval or tho United States. Germany. while offer inS to pay an indemnity. makes the reservation that no admission of wrong doing IS involved. It is con tended that the Lusitania was sunk as an act of repris1l for the British blockade of Germany.
 While Secretary Lansing is under stood not to have indicated to Count vonBernStorff whether the proposal was satisfactory. g Lumber of officials in a position to be familiar with the American attitude indicated that it would be accepted
 The assurances regarding the con duet of submarine warfare in the Mediterranean obviously prompted by the sinking of the British steamship Persia with a loss Of two American lives, are much broader in their scope than the promises made aftee the Lusitania disaster covering the operations Of submarines in the North Sea and adjacent waters The latter guaranteed Cnlv that liners should be immune from attack with out warning. The assurances regard ing the Mediterranean operations, in- clUde privately owned ships of every' character. freight as well as passenger vessels. provided, of course they do not attempt to escape or offer resistance.
 It was revealed today, too. that in the reply to the last note regarding the William P Frye. the Berlin for eiGn office agreed with the American view that small boats cannot under all conditions be considered a place of safety for persons leaving a ship about to be attacked.
 The German government apparently is not certain whether a German sub marine sank the Persia and promises the United States in today's communi- cation that should it develop that such was the case, the matter will be in vesigated ard submitted to prize court proceedings. and that if the com mander disoDeyed his orders he will be punished and reparation made for the death of CT injuries to American citizens
 Consideration of the German assur- ances and of the apparent attitude of Austria Hungary as reflected in dis patches from Ambassador Penfield at Vienna, led officials to believe that the sinking ot the Persia might not result in difficulties so grave as at first were feared.
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