The Washington times., 1916-02-09
Berlin Due to Receive
Lusitania Acceptance
From America Today

Berlin today will receive by cable
Americas provisional acceptance OF
Germany's last word on the LuSi-
tania. Americas acceptance will be
made complete when the German for
eign office substitutes O formal note
fer the informal memorandum present.
ed by Ambassador Won Bernstorft last
week.
The informal memorandum (which
President Wilson yesterday agreed
would be acceptable, when made into a
formal note, is held to concede prac-
tically every demand made by the
United States. IL Is regarded, In et'
feet. as a real disaVowal Of tho sinking
of the vessel. And what the President
considers even. OF greater Importance,
II forms a diplomatic precedent and a
basis for an international rule reEard-
inG submarine warfare.
1t became known today that the inn
mediate cause OF the satisfactory ter
minatlon of the dangcrcbs controversy
that had lasted exactly nine months to
a day, was a long cahle message from
Col. E. NJ. House, the Presidents EN-
VoY extraordinary abroad.
communication may never be made pub
lie, 1t is reported to have emphasized
three conditions he found to exist In
Germany. They Were
1. That the Berlin Governemnt, in the
instructions 1t was then forwarding to
Amba ssador Won Bernstorff, was max
ing its final concession in the Lusitania
negotiations.
3 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 return
to a policy of unrestrained submarine
warfare on all belligerent ships.
3. That severance of diplomatic rela-
ticns between the United States and
Germany would inevitably result in war.
The House cablegram actually reached
the President while he was in St. Louis.
1t was in code, and was not decoded
until President Wilson's return to
Washington last Friday afternoon. Co
incident with delivery to the President
of the House cablegram, he was handed
a communication from Secretary Ian
| sing said to have included reports from
Ambassador Gerard regarding the lat
ter's knowledge OF Berlin's last word
Gerards reports, IL Is stated, were
| pessimistic as to the outcome, in the
event Of the President not accepting
| Ambassador Won BernstorII's instTuc-
tions as basis of settlement.
The President is said to have teen
impressed deeply with Gerard's COM
| munication. 1t was the corrohOratlon
| of Gerard's gloomy outlook by the
| House report that decided the President
| and Secretary Lansing to announce to
grave" They were convinced Germany
| would offer no more. They fully rea-
| liZed what grave possibilities hung or
| their decision as to acceptabtlity OF
| Germany's position.
At almost the same time the President
was studying the Gerard and House
cablegrams urging acceptance of Ber-
Inns suggestions. Count Won Bernstorh
was laying these suggestions before Sec
| retary Lansing.
the proposals were a paraphrase o.
this Governments demands. While 1
was acceptable to the President II
| spirit, the wording was not exactly
| as the President desired. But turninl
once more to the Gerard and Hous'
messages he caught again their warn
ing note and decided not to "quibble'
| over words II Is declared.