New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-13
LANSING'S TALK
AMAzES CAPITAL
Secretary Refuses to EX-
plain His Wolff Agency
Interview.

Washington. Feb r. Secretary Lam
sings plunge into what is recognized
here as the third phase OF the Lusitania
controversy is not rated success.
Publication here Of the Secretary's con-
ciliatory interview, granted 10 the
semi official Wolf Bureau for use in
Germany exclusively. has complicated
matters considerably.
The first phase Of the Lusitania case,
or the epistolary phase. gave oppor-
tunlties 10 the President that were
strikingly successful. The second, or
confidential phase. was not quite so
profitable 70 Washington. But the
present phase Of "pitiless publicity"
has opened even more inausplciously.
Although Mr. Lansing would not give
his reason for violating his rule not 20
give interviews. he admitted to-day
that he had given the Wolf interview,
but for publication in Germany only.
He said that he was greatly surprised
when he found that the Wolff corre-
spOndent here had passed II or to the
correspondent of ar American news as
sociatiOn. The chief feature of the IN
terview was that the Secretary said
that Germany had been asked for moth
ing that she could not give with honor
and dignity"
The Secretary's view Of the matter
has not served 20 clear up the question
which officials asked last night, when
the interview was widely circulated IN
Washington. Wonder az TO what the
Secretary was driving az" is freely
expressed in many quarters here
Lansing's Reason a Mystery.
Il is generally agreed that Mr.. Ian
sing Is apprehensive Of further trouble
over the German LUsltania note, which
was described az the department early
In the week "a substantially satls-
factory" But even this explanation
does not satisfy many officials. who ask
Why the Secretary should put himself
I'm the position Of a suppliant after the
bellicOse declarations OF the Germah
Foreign Office last week.
Last week the German Foreign OF
flee initiated the new "pltiless public
ity' phase. through the medium of the
press, by announcing that the United
States had increased It's demands a.
the last moment. and that Germany
would not consent 20 be held up IN that
fashion. The announcement added
that Germany had gone as far As she
could. and the United States must be
content with that or show itself un-
friendly. In Washington generally this
vas regarded as "a threat. and officials
wondered how President Wilson would
answer it.
The first reply vas the announce
meut that Germany's new proposals
we're Substantially satisfactory
This was modified slightly the next day
when it was learned that Germany had
only assumed responsibility where
Secretary Lansing had asked that she
recognize" it. and that the note had
been sent back 20 Berlin. whence mo
more concessions" were 70 come, for
revision. The supplement 70 this an
swer came In Secretary Lansing's puz-
zling statement 70 the Woolf Bureau,
for publication in Germany only
II is now apparent 10 observers OF
the situation here that Secretary Ian
sing has agreed again 70 change
weapons az the suggestion OF the Ger
man Foreign Office and 20 conduct the
present stage of the controversy
through tie press II IS felt, however.
that his conciliatory answer 20 the open
threats Of the Berlin Foreign Office
xll weaken rather than sustain the
nosi.iOu OF the United States