New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Lansing Will Not Per-
nit Berlin Reply To
Be Vote Issue
GERMAN OFFER
NOT ACCEPTED
u. S. Will Give Britain No
Explanation on U-53
Unless Asked
tFrorn the Tribune Buresu.1

Washington, Oct. 1S.-Reluctant to
make a political issue Of the final set
tlement Of the Lusitania case, the
State Department has decided, 1t was
learned to-day, to postpone publication
Of the substantially satisfactory" Ger
man memorandum of February l6 until
after election. Germany's offer Of set
tlement has not been formally ac-
cepted, II was declared, and probably
no action will be taken on it until the
department is ready to make it public.
Count Won Bernstorff's memorandum,
refusing an explicit disavowal because
the German government had already
officially recognized and defended the
sinking Of the Lusitania, offered in
stead to recognize liability" for in
demnity. This form Of words" ap-
peared to officials as substantially
equivalent TO a disavowal. In admit
ting liability, it was believed, Germany
acknowledged the illegality Of the act.
Too Serious for Politics
The present attitude Of this govern
ment was outlined to-day by a high
official of the Administration. He said
there was a desire In certain quarters
to drag the German memorandum out
and make 4 political issue Of it, but
that il was too serious 10 be dealt with
in that way. For this reason the Ad-
ministration prefers to postpone action
until after election, when the country
can judge It on its inertia
Another consideration Is that the
amount Of indemnity which this gov
eminent is to get from Germany has
not been definitely fixed 1t is report
ed on good authority that $4,000 for
each of the 115 Americans lost on the
Lusitania is the amount tentatively
agreed on, a total Of s675,ooo. Added
to this will be like sums for Ameri
cans lost on the Falaba, Arabic, Sussex
and other torpedoed vessels.
The settlement Of the Ancona case
with Austria is likewise hanging fire
and may be taken up after election.
The Austrian disavowal is considered
Count Won Bernstorff's memorandum
of February 16 was about to be accept
ed formally and the Lusitania case
closed when the publication OF Ger
many's warning that armed merchant
men would be attacked without warn
ing caused the State Department to
hesitate. II was declared that this new
attitude Of Germsny's had nullifed or
at least modified the assurances that
diners" would not be attacked illegally.
These assurances were part Of the Lu-
sitania settlement.
Believe Germany Sincere
Before an agreement could be reached
on this point, the Sussex was torpedoed
and the Lusitania case Immediately
dropped. After the new assurances
given by Germany in the Sussex case.
the State Department delayed settling
tho Lusitania affair until II was seen
whether Germany purposed to carry
out the threat of renewed submarine
warfare II England was not brought to
terms.
Officials believe now that Germany's
sincerity has been demonstrated. But
for the impending election and the fear
of making the Lusitania settlement an
issue, the Administration would pro-
ceed at once to conclusion OF the mat
ter, it is declared.
The United States will not feel called
upon 10 make public any statement on
the raid of the U-53 or the submarine
situation in general, it was learned
to-day, as conse-
uuence of the statement in Parliament
by Viscount Grey that his government
would not make any official represen-
tations to this country till such an
is made here. Information
probably would be supplied, however,
If requested What information the
submarine captain secured in Newport
harbor is still being investigated. es-
pecially in view Of Viscount Grey's
intimation that II might be made
base of claims against this country.
II was announced officially that the
now at hand contained no
evidence that American destroyers had
been requested to move so that the
TT-boat could destroy a ship without
accident. The attention given that re-
mort in Parliament caused surprise
here. as officials attach little impor-
tance TO 1t.