Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-09
BERLIN TO ADMIT
LUSTTANIA SINKING
@UNJUSTTFIABLE"
Controversy Will Be For
mally Closed When Note
Is Sent by Germany
PRESIDENT is SATISFIED
MAsH1NGroN. Teh.

WASHINGTON Feb. 3.
Berlin today will receive by cable Amer
icas provisional acceptance of Germany S
last word" on the Lustana Americas s
acceptance will be made complete when
the German Foreign Office substitutes a
formal note for the informal memorandum
presented by Ambassador Bernstorff last
week.
IL is understood that the forthcoming
formal note from Berlin will not contain
ahe word dsavowal. but will admit that
Ahe deed was unIustifable It also con-
tains phrase which sets forth In effect
that belligerents cannot legally order any
act. even an act OF reprisal, which en-
dangers lives OF neutrals, but which does
not specifically admit the submarine COM
mander who sank the Lusitania commit
ted an illegal act II had been Germany's
unswervinR contention from the first that
she could not dlsavow a specific act of
commander who had been ordered to do
that very thing as an act OF reprisal
against what Germany held to he an il-
legal act-establlshment OF food block
ade by England.
PLEDGES FOR CONDUCT.
IT was this single point about which
had centred all the negotiations of the
last five months. AS to reparation, Ger
many first considered II sufficient If she
agreed to pay Indemnity out of friend
ship Later there was concession TO
American demands that reparation be
made not as an act of grace but because
II was right. Germany gave pledges re-
Rarding future conduct of submarine war
fare with only show OF hesitation.
In the matter Of reprisals the United
states held they may sometimes be JUS
tifable, but never legal. Germany has
agreed to admit that reprisals are not
justihable when directed against neutrals,
which means that the Lusitania sinking
was not justitiablc. The United states
points out that illegal acts include acts |
that are not justified and therefore ac- |
cepts Germany's admission that the act |
was unjustifiable as being admission that |
the act was Illegal.
The informal mem orandum which Presi- |
dent Wilson yesterday agreed would be |
acceptable, when made INTO formal |
note, is held to contede practically every |
demand made by the United States. IL |
Is regarded, in effect, as real disaVowal |
of the sinking of the vessel. And what /
the President considers even OF greater
Importance, it forms IA diplomatic prece-
dent and basis for international law re-
garding submarine warfare
IL became known today that the immer
dlate cause for the satisfactory terrnina-
tion of the dangerous controversy that
has lasted exactly nine months to day
was a long cable message from Colonel
ID M. House, the Presidents envoy eN-
traordinary'' abroad
HOUSES REPORT EMPHATIC.
While the contents of Colonel Houses
Communication may never be made pub /
lie, 1t is understood TO have emphasized
three conditions he found to exist in Ger
many They were
First. That the Berlin Government, in
the instructions IT was then forwarding to
Ambassador Berustorff. was making it's
final concession in the Lusltania negotia-
tions
Second. That as a result of the feeling
against America for its stand in the case
there was a growing demand by the Won
Tirpitz minority for a return to policy I
of unrestrained submarine warfare on all
belligerent ships.
Third. That severance of diplomatic !
negotiations between the United States
and Germany would inevitably result in
war.
The House cablegratn actually reached
the President while he was in St Louis
II was in code and was not decoded until
President Wilson's return TO washington
last friday afternoon, Coincident with
delivery to the President of the House
eabiegram he was handed communica-
fipn from Secretary Lansing said to in
Guide reports from Ambassador. Gerard Z
REGARDING the latter's knowledge of Ber-
Inns last word"
Gerard's reports tits stated, were pessi-
nlistic as TO the outcome in the event of
the President not accepting Ambassador
bernstorf q Instructions as a basis of
settlements
The President Is said ia have been i'm
pressed deeply with Gerards communi- |
cation Itswas 'corroboratioh of Gerards
gloomy outlook by the House report that
President mn I