New Britain herald., 1916-02-08
IUSITANIA CASE HELD BY ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
 TO BE EVERY HOPEFUL 2
Germanys Latest Reply Characterised as AL
 most, if Not Entirely, Acceptable to U. S.; Wilson and Lansing Hold Conference
WHOLE SITUATION DISCUSSED AT LENGTH AT CABINET MEETING

LIEN " Secretary of State to Consult Bern sS storff Late Today-Some Formal
 Announcements Indicating Satis-
 factory Conclusion of Long Con-
 troversy Between Countries Is Ex-
 pected Soon.
 Washington, Feb. S.-Germany's s latest reply in the Lusitania nego- tiations was characterized as almost if not entirely, acceptable to the United States, by high officials today after Secretary Lansing had conferred with President Wilson more than an hour and the case had been discussed at-length at the cabinet meeting. The whole situation was described by ad ministration officials as every hope full"
 Later today Secretary Lansing will confer with Count Von Bernstorff, the German ambassador. It is expected he will communicate to the ambassa- dor the American governments view of the latest proposal from Berlin which substituted for the word illegal, in the reference to the sinking of the TIusitania, a declaration that reprlsals must not be extended to others than enemy subjects
 After the cabinet meeting Secretary Lansing said: There was no state met to be given out at this time.
 Formal Announcement Soon.
 The view reflected by administration officials. while all of them steadfastly refrain from making any definite an- ilouncement is that this declaration, with the assurances Germany previ- ously had, given and with the other features of the Lusitania agreement already agreed upon, is Mutually sat . isfactory, and that if any further changes are necessary the way is open t5r them without endangering the success of the negotiations Some formal announcement indicating sat isfactory conclusion of the long con- troversy is expected soon.
 One administration official indicated it would not be necessary for the United States to make any further Sug2eSI1On 10 0oTmany.
 Substantially In Accord.
 Later high administration officials authorized the statement that ''The United States and Germany are sub- stantially in accord"
 Another high administration official said that the case could not be con- sidered finally settled but that it was hoped a settlement might be reached T ba retary Lansing and the German am- bassador, although that was not ab- @g@olutely certain. It was understood that the exact wording of the com munication submitted by Count Won Bernstorff was not in entire accord with the views of the President and the cabinet.
 Next Step in Case.
 With the two governments sub- EtantialIy in accord, the next step in the proceeding will be to put the settlement, when finally agreed upon, in formal document to be presented to the state department in behalf of the Berlin foreign office.
 Tn addition to the declaration that reprisals must not be directed against others than enemies, the promise of Indemnity for American lives lost on the Lusitania, and declaration of Germany's desire to cooperate with iS7e United States to secure the free dom of the seas, it is understood that the document will either incorporate, or attention will be directed to, the assurances Germany gave in the Arabia case that liners would not be sunk without warning, provision be- ing made for the safety of those or board unless they resisted capture or attempted to flee.
 ~'The inclusion of all these points is understood to embrace everything for which the United States has contend ed