New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-09
Only Issue Left Is the
Wording of Reply
to u. S.
TEUTONS SEE
NO HITCH NOW
Bernstorff Sends New
Draft TO Berlin for
Approval.
trrom rhs rribuns BGrssiLl


Bernstorff's new Lusitania proposals
were approved by the President End
the Cabinet to-day. and the amcas-
sador was told late this afternoon
that as soon as his government had
formally ratified them the Lusitsnis
case would be considered closed. He
Immediately cabled to Berlin for in
structions. All that remains TO be
decided Is whether Berlin will prefer
to send a Foreign Office note an
swering the American note Of July
q, or to authorize Count Won Bern
storR 10 sign the document now IN
Secretary Lansing's hands.
Just before the ambassadors visit
to the State Department this after
noon, r member of the Cabinet die
tated the following statement:
. "To the announcement yesterday
that the United States had not in
creased the Lusitania demands crn
be added the statement that 1t has
not diminished them. The position
Of this government was set forth in
the note Of May 1S, and has not
changed.
THE communication received
through Ambassador Won Bernstorf
Friday is substantially satisfactory
10 the United States, and makes .
possible to say that a settlement is
in prospect
The phrases in the memorandum
which President Wilson holds to be
equivalent TO a dsavowal are srb-
stantially as follows
The German government ac-
knowledges liability 10 pay in
demnity for the American lives
destroyed on the Lusitanla.
In the conduct Of reprisals il
is admitted that neutral lives
should not be imperilled, and
the destruction of the Lusitanis,
in so far as 1t endangered neu
tral lives, was therefore unjus
tifable.
Minor Changes in Text Asked
While the substance OF the pro
posed communication admittedly is
satisfactory, minor changes 20 clar-
ify the wording and in connection
with the form which the formal doc
ument shall take were suggested to
day 10 Count Won Bernstorf, the
German Ambassador, by Secretary
Lansing. The desires of the United
States in this connection were made
known TO the ambassador after
( President Wilson had discussed the
/ subject with his Cabinet.
/ Count Won Bernstor;f Immediately
informed the Secretary that ne saw no
reason why the changes could not be
made, but explained, IN effect, that, az
a precaution, he thought he would be
justified in submitting the entire mat
/ ter 20 his government for final ap
D UEOFAls ne uAA ~ AAl n AA1HdANh cNHH
/ 10 Berlin tonight. and within about slr
days the resulting formal communics-
tion is expected
Secretary Lansing insists. IL Is stated
by high authority. that IL shall be
stated specifically In the communics-
tion that - j. IN answer 10 the Ameri
can note of July 81. This and changes
deemed necessary 10 clarity certain
portions Of the document Administrs.
ton officials thought Count Won Bern.
storf himself would be able 10 make.
The Ambas ador, however. decided
not 20 even change the punctuation o.
the document without the approval o.
his government. He had not deemed II
necessary. 10 Is said, % include the
statement that the communication was
IN answer 20 the American note, CON
siderng that the same end would be
accomplished By submitting II IN the
form Of A memorandum.
Administration officials hold. how
ever. that to keep the record straight,
ii for no other reason, mention thas
the communication Is reply should
be made.
The ambassador as yet does not know
whether his government wants him 30
sign the formal note or whether u -
desired 20 have the Secretary OF For.
oign Affairs do so. This phase also
/ has been submitted 10 Berlin.
Assurances were received IN hign
diplomatic and Official circles that the
changes of wording suggested Vou d
not in any sense alter the meaning No
/ notifications. 70 was authoritaLiyeir
stated. were suggested iu connection
! with the phrase slbstit.ted COR the
word illegal" which the German GO
eminent vas unwilling % use.
! In Ieutonic diplomatic circles nos