Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-05
MOST CRITICAL POINT
Continued from Page One)

ton Of submarine warfare. The dis
patch the ambassador received today
and presented to the secretary was
very brief and covered only that one
point. Otherwise the document Is I'M
changed, as it was drawn to meet all
the contentious of the United States.
May Continue Negotiations
1t may be stated authoritatively that 1t
does not follow that either a completely
satisfactory settlement or an open break
mus: follow at the end of four or five
days. The negotiations may continue.
Whether Germany's pledges given after
the sinking of the Arabic, coupled with an
assumption of liability for the lives Of neu-
trails lost on the Lusitania will satisfy the
United States remains. for the developments
of the next few days. President Wilson
probably is the only man who knows
The American government in a recent
communication to all the belligerents open
ly recognized the submarine as a factor
which has brought about great change
in naval warfare and which demands recog-
milton in International law. President
Wilson feels that public opinion In Ger
many, as elsewhere must be considered and
that diplomatic negotiations must have re
gard for that important factor. At the
same time officials dislike the limitations
that have come from Berlin that the points
for which the American government are
contending are purely technical and hair
splitting and unnecessary of prosecution in
view of Germany's concession of pecuniary
~
her promise of future abstention from in
human methods of submarine warfare.
The Contentious
That is the reason given for the insist
ence of the state department upon It's or
iginal "confuent expectation" laid down
in the first Lusitania note that the impe-
rial government will disavow the acts OF
which the government of the United States
complains. as we'll as make reparation for
the loss of American lives. In the fac,
the state department has expressly sought
to avoid limiting its demands upon the
German government to the loss of American
lfe on the Lusitania. 1t has insisted tna'
these contentious are irrelevant to tint
question of the legality of tn e methods uset
BY the German naval authorities in sinking
the vessel
In the Lusitania note dated June 9. 1915
Secretary Lansing declared that he wa
contending not only for the mere proper
| ty rights of the United States but 70
nothing less high and sacred than tn
rights of humanity" Therefore his oh
jections to the methods of German sub
marine warfare were in the interest O
all neutrals and all non-combatants a
well. even of belligerent nationalties Ii
expressly denounced as unparalleled il
modern warfare the sinking of grea
passenger steamer carrying more than
thousand souls who had no part or lot il
the conduct of the war, without so nue.
as challenge or a warning
1t may be stated upon authority that
| is upon this broad ground that the Unite
States government stands today and i
is believed that is why it has been re
! fusing to accept any settlement that in
volved departure from or surrender O
this principle. In a measure German
| recognized this position when she con
sented to eliminate the proposed reser
walton of any admission OF wrong dom
by her submarine commander for his &C
in torpedong any enemy ship carryin
munitions.
All through the first months of the ne
gotiations Germany contended steadfastl
to include such a reservation in tn
agreement.
Count Won Bernstorff indicated h
thought it would not be necessary 70
him to see Secretary Lansing again OF
the subject. His visit today was strictl
formal, lasting less than five minutes
1t was evident that the ambassador sim
ply delivered the message from his gov
eminent and that Secretary LANSING
scarcely did more than accept it for sub
mission to President Wilson.
The President, just home from hi
| western experimenting trip and confront
ed with many waiting affairs, is under
stood to have gone over the situation
F., with the secretary only briefly.