The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-21
Halt Is Called in Settlement OF
Sea Tragedy.
Dismissal of Attache Is One of
the Reasons Given.
NO PREPARATION TO BE MADE
Berlin Government Fears Sem
timent of German POpulace.
BernstOrff and Lansing Have
Dropped All Deliberations.

Washington, Dec 21.-Full settle
ment of the Lusitania case including
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 Ger
man naval and military attaches and
the American demands on Austria
Hungary as a result Of the sinking OF
the Ancona Consideration OF the
state of public opinion in Germany
because of these two acts of the
American government. according to
relia BILE information received here. has
caused officials in Berlin to decide
that such a settlement as might be
satisfactory to the United States would
not now meet with popular approval
in Germany.
An agreement. it was said. was prac-
tically reached soon after the Ameri-
can note to Great Britain. protesting
against interference with neutral trade
had been published in Germany. The
note created a remarkable pro-Ameri-
can sentiment in Berlin as well as
throughout Germany. At that time, IL
is said, public opinion would have APP
proved receding a bit and making a
settlement of the controversy.
Negotiations Were On.
Negotiations between Secretary
Lansing and Count Won Bernstorff.
the German ambassador. were pro-
crossing when the United States de-
manded the withdrawal of Captain
Boy-Ed and Captain Won Papen. That
act, according to advices here. caused
German opinion to swing back to re-
sentiment of the action of the United
States because the belief prevailed that
the attaches had done nothing to war
rant their removal.
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 to have increased
materially
Concessions Later On?
To recede even a trifle at this time.
Berlin officials were said to believe,
would bring on storm of public dis
approval 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 favorable to the
United States, concessions may be
made by Germany German Officials
are said to be convinced that an in
demnity for the Americans lost on the
Lusitania and something in the nature
of a diSavowal will be the only meas
ures to satisfy the United States. They
are also said to feel that the best dis
aVowal which can be given was the
promise not to repeat such an act,
which already had been given.
How near to an agreement Count
Won Bernstorff and Secretary Lansing
were before the dismissal of the at
taches may never be known. They
have a mutual agreement not TO dis
cuss the negotiations 1t is believed.
however, that the am basSador was
about to make, or had made proposal
which might meet the approval OF the
United States.
The statement that the negotiations
have been delayed for the first time is
strengthened by the fact that Secre-
tary Lansing has not discussed the
case with Count Won Bern
storff since tine request for the recall
of the attches.