Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-08-11
Request to Germany for Per-
mission to Publish Lusitania
Note Characterized as an
"InadyertenCe
SILENCE IS BROKEN
BY STATE DEPARTMENT
Letter Written to German En-
baSSy by Subordinate Is
Signed by Polk or Lansing
in Ignorance of Contents,

L.r .osalra lounn.l ss.el.L la.sse I'M


Washington Aug I0.-State dc.
partmcnt officials today explained
that the recent request 20 the German
embassy for permission 10 publish one
of Count Won Benstorffs notes on tho
settlement of the t.usitania case, was
an madVertance. At first IL was de-
uiCd that any such request had been
made but an investigation OF the de-
partmcnts files disclosed that let
ter prepared hv subordinate official
had been signed either by Secretary
Lansing or Acting Secretary Polk and
had been transmitted TO the German
Cm hassy.
state department officials declared
that too much Importance had been
attached to the request IN German Of
fetal quarters and that ii WAS not, az
interpreted an indication that Ger
manys proposals were to be accepted
as satisfactory.
state department officials today
broke their silence on the subject and
asserted that what really happened
Was this
How II Happened.
& subo dinatp official who assem-
hles the diplomatic correspondence.
wrote the German embassy lctter.
which MIR Polk admitted was signed
either 10y himself or by Secretary
Lansing. for permission TO publish
one of the Lusitania notes submitted
by the German ambassador on De
Ccmber 4 The embassy replied CIV
ing it's assent with the suggestion that
the last note dated February lt. be
published ~ the snme time, THIS
suggestion was not answered ON the
other hand the suggestion thnt any
al s4tfsfsaanAnIHnRa ha nuhiiNnpn
was dropped at once on the decision
Of higher officials that the cireum-
stances which interviewed 10 prevent
a conclusion Of the negotiations had
not been altered
The embassy was not Informed az
the changed plan. Word was sent 20
Berlin that the note would be made
public here
When Information was received
here OF the request Go the embassy
and its reply German embassy oftie-
iuls were questioned ana thoy led IN
quirers 10 believe they considered the
proceeding an indication of the i'm
pending acceptance Of the latest Ger
man proposals IN fact u was stated
that he diplomatic relations between
the United states and Germany never
had been so satisfactory from their
imperilpd bv submarine warfare.
Intimations Unauthorized.
This was supplemented further oF
characteriziug as absolutely unwar-
ranted recent limitations from Berlin
that underseas warfare was about 10
be resumed on its former scale There
was the added impression that the
United states had been convinced bN
the abandonment OF the submarine
since the sinking of the
channel liner Sussex, Of the sincerity
OF Gcrmauys declaration Of accept
auce of the principles laid down Upon
that showing they believed the state
department was about 20 publish the
Iusitania correspondents with an ui-
plication. at least, Of It's acceptahilitN
This view Of the situation was laid
before Acting Secretary Polk WcdncH
day 4s having been gained in German
official circles Mr. polk's reply was
q refusal even to discuss the Lusitaolt
case.
The United states government Nc
therefore appears, does not consider
tho matter settled u any sense ans
more than it was last February.