The amazing intrigues of Dr. Dumba, the Austrian Ambassador at
Washington, which we recorded last week, have caused President Wilson to take action. He informed the Austrian Government that Dr. Dumba was "no longer acceptable." It is said that the Austrian Government will not appoint a new Ambassador during the war, but will leave their Embassy in the hands of a Chargé d'Affaires. As for the relations of the United States and Germany, they have reverted to the position before Count Bernstorlf gave his promise that liners should not be attacked without warning and without securing the safety of passengers, provided that the liners did not try to escape or offer resistance. The German Government, on second thoughts, have announced that the ' Arabic brought her fate on herself. The com- mander of the German submarine gained the impression that the' Arabic' was about to ram him. He therefore rightly—so runs the argument of the German Note—disregarded all his instructions. In these circumstances the German Govern- ment, while "extremely sorry for the loss of American lives, "cannot recognize the obligation for compensation." They are willing, however, to submit the matter to arbitration, pro- vided that the judgment shall not affect the question of the permissibility of German submarine warfare.
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