OCR Text |
Show MAY SEND NEW NOTE TO GERMANY ON SUBMARINES WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. More definite information as to the facts involved in recent activities hy German submarines has brought the situation to a pofnt where a new note to Germany, designed to clear up any doubt as to the interpretation of the Berlin government's submarine pledges to the United States, appears to be anions the possibilities of the near future. fu-ture. President Wilson has gdven careful attention at-tention to the evidence in the cases of several of the vessels recently attacked, but has trlven no indication of what his decision will be. It was stated positively today that no course had been decider! upon, but beyond this, and a reiteration that the American government had not in any way altered its stand on the submarine sub-marine question, officials declined to make any comment. The cases in the forefront of consideration considera-tion are tho.e of the British steamers Arabia anil Marina, both of which Germany Ger-many contends were believed to be transports trans-ports in the naval service of the allies. During the day official information reached the state department establishing establish-ing that the Marina, 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 actual status of the Arabia. While a i ministration officials remain silent, those in close touch with affairs in Teutonic diplomatic circles deprecate any suggestion that relations bPtween the two countries are approaching a crisis. They point out that Germany already al-ready has offered to make amends if her submarine commanders are shown to have been mistaken in considering the vessels transports, and declare their knowledge of the intentions of the Berlin government govern-ment precludes the possibility that any deliberate violation of the submarine pledges has occurred. On the other hand, the T'nfted States said in the Sussex note that mistakes that endangered American lives on peaceful peace-ful vessels were not to be tolerated. |