New-York tribune., 1916-02-17
Settlement Delayed
Until Berlin ReneWs
Arabic Pledge.
GERMANY ASKED
FOR EXPLANATION
Wilson Takes Firm Stand
Against Sinking of
Armed Liners.

Washington, feb. lb.-Ihe whole
controversy with Germany over the
Lusitania and submarine warfare Is
reopened, Secretary Lansing said To-
day. by Germany's announcement
tfat armed belligerent merchantmen
will be sunk without warning after
March /. Mr.. Lansing declared that
this announcement makes il neces-
ssry to examine whether the Ger
man promises, given Just after .he
Arabic was sunk, are not modified
and, perhaps, nullified by the Ger
man memorandum.
This statement was made after
Count Won Bernstorff's visit to the
State Department this morning.
when he presented new draft OF
the Lusitania note, which is under
stood to meet the objections raisci
against the one he presented ten
days ago. II is understood that q
the Cabinet meeting yesterday ~
was decided that no matter how az
ceptable Germany'se note on the iu.
sitania might be, it could not be nc
cepted until Germany's attitude
toward armed merchantmen was
brought into substantial accord with
that of the United States.
When the German Ambassadcr
loft the State Department soon sf-
ter noon it was believed that tho
Lusitania case was settled. Germany
had consented to substitute "recoe
nizes liability for indemnity for
assumes" liability. This was the
point for which Secretary Lansing
contended at their last conference
and il was then believed that a com.
pliance on Germany's part with tins
suggestion would make the satisfac-
ton for the LuSitania complete.
Situation Again Grave
\ few hours later it became
known that. As President Wilson
viewed the situation. Germany nsd
withdrawn her first payment on he
Lusitana account while making the
second. The situation was therefor
exactly where it WAS three week
ago when President Wilson wa
stumping the West and his advisers
in Washington were describing the
situation as grave"
As the President sees il, the satisfac-
tion demanded by this government Is
twofold: First, disayowal and indem
nifty for the sinking Of the Lusitanls.
reparation for the past acts of the Ger
man government; second, assurance
that similar acts will not be repeated.
Germany granted the second Of these
conditions just after the Arabic was
sunk, it is held, by stating that 40 more
"lners" would be torpedoed without
warning The receipt Of this assur-
ance was the first diplomatic victory
over Germany, and was held to consti-
tute part payment for the Lusitania
Since then President Wilson has
been endeayoring to obtain indemnity
and some form OF words" that might
be interpreted a. a disavowsl. On Feb
ruary il was announced by the State
Department that the form OF words"
had been approXimated, and that Ger
manys note, with minor notifications.
was satisfactory.
After the Cabinet meeting that day
Secretary Lansing returned to Ambss-
sador Won Bernstorf his note, with a
plain intimation that when assumes
was changed 10 recognizes" 1t would
be satisfactory.
Lansing Told of New Policy.
At that same conference between
Secretary Lansing and the German Am
bassador the Secretary was Informed OF
Germany's new submarine policy. IL
did not occur 20 Secretary Lansing a.
the moment that the new policy had
any bearing on the Lusitania case.
4 week elapsed without the signif
cance Of Germany's new move attract
ing the attention either of the Presi-
dent or the Secretary OF State. During
that time the official German communi-
cation announcing the new policy came
from Berlin. During that time also
violent protests came from the Allied
powers against Secretary lansing
proposal to disarn their merchant
ships.
The State Department. as shown in
Secretary Lansiug's note 10 the Allies,
was considering whether, in view Of the
character OF submarine warfare and
the vulnerability OF submarines, n
might not be advisable to recognize
Germany's ruthless war on defensively
armed vessels. The President did not
want to take such a step, knowing that
his right 70 amend or interpret inter-