The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-25
posTp0NEs lUsIIANIl CASE.
SETTLEMENT WOULD BE UNPOP-
ULAR JUST NOW.
Ancona Note Stirs up Teutonic People
and Recall OF German Attaches
Adds to Anger.

Washington, Dec. 21.--Full settle
reparation for the lives of the Ameri-
can victims. which it became known
today recently was near. has been
postponed by the dismissal of the
German naval and military attaches
and the American demands on Aus
tria-Hungary as a result of the sink
ing OF the Ancona.
Consideration OF the state OF pub
lie opinion in Germany because Of
these two acts of the American gov
ernment. according TO reliable in
formation received here, has caused
officials In Berlin to decide that such
settlement as might be satisfactory TO
the United States would not now meet
with popular approval In Germany.
An agreement, IL was said, practi-
American note to Great Britain pro-
testing against Interference with neu-
tral trade had been published In Ger
many. The note. 1t Is said, created q
remarkable pro-American sentiment
throughout Germany. AT that time.
IL Is said. public opinion would have
approved receding bit, making a set
tlement OF the controversy possible.
Negotiations between Secretary Lam
sing and Count Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador. were progressing
when the United States demanded the
withdrawal OF Capt. Boy-E and Capt.
Won Papen. This act. according to ad-
vices here, caused German opinion to
swing back to resentment Of the ac-
ton Of the United States.
The demands upon Austria and the
vigorous terms In which the first note
was couched next attracted adverse
criticism In Germany, and the resent
ment. started by the request for the
recalls. is described as having in
creased materially.
To recede even a trifle at this time,
Berlin officials are said to believe,
would bring q storm OF public disap-
proval and furnish the opposition to
the government with grounds for criti-
cism. Officials now believe that at
some time in the future. when
public opinion again Is more favor
able TO the United States. concessions
may be made by Germany.
German officials are said to be con-
vinced that an indemnity for the
Americans lost on the Lusitania and
something in the nature OF disavowal
will be the only measures to satisfy
the United States. They also are said
TO feel that the only disavowal which
could be given was the promise not
to repeat such an act. which had al
ready been given.
Just how near was an actual agree
ment before the dismissal of the at
taches may never be known. The Ger
man ambassador and Secretary Ian
sing have a mutual agreement not to
discuss the negotiations in any way.
1t is believed. however. that the am
bassador was about to make or had
made some sort Of a proposal, which
might have met with the full or par
tial approval of the United States. A
number of propositions had been
submitted by both sides at various
stages OF negotiations.
The statement that the negotiations
have been delayed for the time is
strengthened by the fact that Secre-
tary Lansing has not discussed the
Lusitania case with Count Won Bern
storm since the request for the recall
OF the attaches became public. Frr-
thermore. no communications upon
the subject have passed between the
secretary and the ambassador.