The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-11
Germany Agrees toUS.
Demand for Dtsavoqval
of Lustfania Sinking
Lansing and Won Bernstorff Reach an Agreement,
Which Was Sent to Berlin for Approval-Settlement
of the Controversy Is Expected This Week.


ernment In laying the foundation FOR
demand for the disavowal by Germany
has been. IL was pointed out. that the
repiisal undertaken by Germany was
Illegal in that 1t was In defiance OF the
rules of international law requiring
belligerent to safeguard the lives of non
cornbatsnts on torpedoed merchantmen
on the high seas.
According to reliable information oh
tained tonight MIR. Lansing and the Aln-
bassador al their conference last week
reached a point ut which the AMbassa-
dor was able TO limit a tentative draft
OF tho note which he would advise his
Government l.. send to the United States.
4 was at this same conferer'c that TIRE
Ambassador 7uomitted - Mr.. Lansing
Germany's broad assurances for the
safeguarding OF American lives In sub
marine activities In the Mediterranean.
Nodded by the President.
The draft submitted by the Ambassa-
dor is said TO have then been laid be-
fore President Wilson. who returned II
to Secretary Lansing with certain modi-
hcations to be used In disavowing the
attack. These notifications served TO
make II clearer that while Germany still
| insisted that Great Britain's actions were
contrary to law, she nevertheless nd-
mitted the illegality OF her own act
For the last six weeks or two months
| the negotiations between the Amba ssa =
dor ana Mr.. Lansing have practically
hinged on this question OF disavowal,
| Germany contending that as she had
! proclaimed In her war zone decree the
! right TO sink all enemy merchrnt ships
and had specifically instructed her sub
| marines to destroy the Lusitana, she
| could no: turn around and admit that
the attack was Illegal. Count Won
Berns, Jrf labored hard to persuade the
American Government TO accept the as
suranccs in the Arabic case. in which
| Germany gave notice that she had
changed her rules to submarine com
msnders in lieu OF a disavowal. but this
the United states refused t. do.
Official, OF the state Department are
! confident that with the settlement OF the
Iusitania case the whole submarine dis
pu,e between the United States and th'
Central Powers will be quickly adjusted.
other Assurances Probable.
Austria having met the demands o
the United states in the Ancona cas
and Germany having given explicit as
suranoss IN her Frye note that she vii
not turn loose on the high seas In ope
boats passengers and crews from Ameri
jcct TO destruction. IL is believed tha
the other Central Powers. Turkey am
Bulgaria. can he brought TO subscrlh
to these assurances. Whether such as
surances will actually be asked fror
> these other Powers, however, has nc
been decided
In the meantime the United states
still without the means of clearing u
the my ystery Of the attack on the persis
1 in which AT least one American. Unite
\ States Consul Robert y. McNeely. los
= his life. \ despatch received at III
I state Department to-day from consi
n Kebinger ~ Malta said that while i
?. had obtained affidavits from three
e the survivors landed there. InClud!n
h Lord Montagu, none OF them was alb
y to state more than belief that Il
= vessel was torped0ed.
g Al three affdavts. Il is understood
y mertl loned that the officers OF the Persi
had been ON the lookout for submarine
= but had seen none.