New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-06
Berlin Admits Neu-
trails Should Have
Been Spared.
LANSING SENDS
NOTE TO WILSON
Secretary Says He May
Make Announcement Soon
Tension Lessons.

From n, Tnsuns Bl--.ul
Washington, Feb. 5.-"No change"
was the report Of the State Depart
ment to-day on the Lusitania case.
While this might be taken as an in
dication that the grave, but not
dangerous" crisis still prevails,
there was a marked tendency among
officials to-day to regard tire situa. \
ton as less serious than they be-
lieved it TO be week ago.
Whether an admission Of liability
is a confession Of guilt is the ques-
ton that Secretary Lansing and
President Wilson will debate Mon
day, when they have their first con-
ference on Count Won Bernstorf's
new proposals. The Ambassador
and his government believe it is;
the United States has maintained
that it is not. For the word Illegal"
which Germany was unwilling to in
corporate in the tentative draft Of
tie Lusitania agreement, the Berlin
Foreign Office has substituted q
phrase which certain high authori-
ties in q position TO be familiar with
the status Of the negotiations con-
slider covers all the principles in
volved in the question Of submarine
warfare.
Agrees Neutrals Should BE Spared.
The language substituted for the
Objectionable word Illegal in ten
tative communication now being con-
sidered by President Wilson AYERS
that the killing of Americans in tho
Lrsitania disaster was without in
tent. because the destruction of tho
Cunard liner was an act Of reprisal,
and the German government agrees
tnat reprisals should not be applied
u neutrals.
Upon the authority OF high off,
cial Of the administration who has
read the communication delivered by
Count Won Bernstortf yesterday, it
may be stated that the memorandum
Of settlement proposed by Berlin Is
in substance the following:
From the beginning Of the war
Great Britain continually violated
/ the rules of civilized warfare. and in
tie end Germany suffered immeas-
urably from the inhuman and Illegal
practices of its enemy.
Great Britain's disregard for tho
rules Of warfare laid down By interna-
tioral law eliminated in the imposition
of an illegal blockade and the adoption
Of other barbarous measures aimed at
the starvation Of the non-combatant
men. women and children Of Germany.
International law declares that IL in
permissive and justifable for a bellig-
erent to commit a reprisal upon its
enemy in retaliation for an 'nhuman
and illegal practice in the conduct Of
It's warfare.
In retaliation for the starvation
blockade Of Germany the imperial gov
ernment proclaimed naval war rome
Of the waters Of the British Isles and
announced its intention OF destroying
enemy merchant vessels in that area.
In carrying out this reprisal upon
Great Britain in retaliation for It's in
human practices q German submarine
sank the enemy liner Lusitania.
Regrets Americans We're Lost.
Germany deeply regrets that Ameri-
can citizens lost their lives as a result
OF reprissl 20 which j., was forced to
resort by the barbarous methods OF its
enemy.
/, was not intended that lives OF
Americans and other neutrsls should
be sacrificed, for it is recognized that
q reprisal should not be carried out so
as 20 injure innocent non-eomoatsnts.
Although the destruction Of the
enemy liner Lusitsnis was an act recog-
nized as legal and justihsble by inter
national law, Germany Immediately
abandoned that form OF reprissl be-
cause il had cost the lives OF Ameri-
cans.
Because OF its desire 20 retain unir-
paired the friendship OF the United
( States. Germany already has given as
surances that liners will not be at
tackled without warning and without
provision for the safety o. non-com-
batants aboard
Germany. having issued the instruc-
tions 10 submarine commanders which
now prevail, the Imperial soyernmsns