Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-08
Senator Stone Believes the
Controversy Is Almost
as Good as Ended
GERMANY ADMITS
CONTENTION OF U. S.
Lansing Not to Haggle on
Phraseology Of Note
From the Kaiser

From the Kaiser
Washington, D. c., Feb. T.
Germany has agreed that repris-
ais must not be directed against
any other than enemy subjects.
his expression 10 offered by Ger
many to take the place Of the
phrase containing the word
"ilIeeaI," which was Incorporated
In the draft Of tho lusitanla
agreement now under considera-
tion.
II also became known that Ger
many expresses the hope that It
may have the opportunity to CO.
operate with the United States In
some action looking toward the
freedom Of tho seas before tho
end Of the war. This statement
10 taken In high diplomatic circles
to imply that the Berlin govern
ment sees no occasion to await
the cessation Of hostiIlties before
settling that Issue.
Furthermore. the German gov
ernment refers to the British
blockade Of Germany az being in
humane, calls attention to the
fact that neutral vessels have
been affected by the efforts Of the
British government to starve
Germany, and puts forth the con-
tention that the German retaIia-
tIon In the war zone around the
British isles 10 justified by the
actions Of Great Britain. Claims
that the reprisaIs are legal are
not mentioned.
A. has been previously stated,
Germany says in the communlcA-
ton that the killing Of citizens Of
the United States was without
intent and that the method Of
conducting warfare In the North
ssa has been changed out Of re-
gard for the long standing friend
ship between the United States
and Germany and because Ameri-
can lives were lost.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 7.-Secre
ary Lansing today fatty denied tha
lew demands had been made in tn,
4usitania case at a time when tn,
German government considered tn
practically were at al
md. He was speaking of the Berlil
dispatches quoting the references b,
)r. Zimmerman, German undersecre
ary of foreign affairs, to new de
nands."
This government" said Secretar,
"has not increased the de
hands made in the Lusitania case al
ct forth in the notes Of May 13, Jun,
}, and July 21. I doubt If DR.. Zim
hermann ever made the statemen
hat new demands had been injected
ecause he must know that it is ut
erly false"
Secretary Lansing would not go int
[etails or discuss DR.. Zimmermann':
tatement further. When DR.. Zim
nermann's statement was published
q this country, however, his reference
to now demands was taken to apply
o possible construction on the wore
Illegal in the proposed form of set
lement. The only ground American
mcials could find for constituting tha
8 embodying new demand was thu
that it might be considered
pplicable not alone to the destruction
4 neutrals on the Lusitania, but also
s to the method by which she was
unk.
Secretary Lansing said he expected
0 confer with President Wilson today
Ie made it known, however, that the
tate department considered the situa
lon unchanged. Hv ......
Case "PracticaIly Settled"
Chairman Stone of the senate for
Ign relations committee said after
alking with administration officials
hat his impression was the Lusitanis
ase was practically settled" He
i'd not go into details. Secretary
however, indicated that some
announcement might be given out
1ithin the next few days *
There was no indication whether
he president had definitely decided
'hether Germany's latest propose
yas satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Administration officials let it be
nown that a mere choice of words
yould not be permitted to stand in
he way of success of the negotiations
nd that the United States will not
1sist on the use of the word illegal
r "disavowal' in Germany's acknow:
sdgment that sinking of the liner
,ithout warning and the loss Of lie
merican lives was wrong.
<Contiaued on page 81