The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-10
Wilson and LANSING Consider
German Plan to Admit IL
legality Of Lusitania At
tack By lnnuendo.
NO DOWNRIGHT DlsAv0MAL
Intimated That Controversy
May Be Settled on That
Basis Without Surrender
BY Either Side.

49, - ~ 49, WSA AAd4-y 81 1ArLs1 a
agreed that reprisals must not be di
rected against any other thar enemy
subjects. This expression is offered
by Germany to take the place OF The
Phrase containing the word "iliegal'
which was incorporated in the draft OF
the I.usitania agreement now under
consideration.
After talking with administration Of
%ficials. Senator Stone, Of the Senate
foreign affairs committees, said that his
impression was that the Lusitania case
was practically settled Secretary
Lansing indicated that some
ment might be given out for publica-
ton within the next few days.
Wilson Reserves Decision.
There was no Indication whether the
whether Gerrnany's latest proposal was
satisfactory.
Administration officials let 1t be
knoWn that a mere choice of words
would not be permitted to stand in the
way OF success of the negotiations.
The proposal now before President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing is de-
scr1bed In German circles as substi-
tuting for the word illegal" a phrase
which Germany hopes will be accept
able to the United States as covering
the same point without humiliating
Germany.
The principal consideration of the
United States is that there should be
an acknowledgment by Germany that
the sinking of an unresisting merch-
antman without warning is in contra
vention of international law and that
such naval warfare shall be perma-
nently discontinued. The German con
tention is that such assurances already
have been given in the Arabic case.
No Intent to Kill Americans.
The language substituted for the oh
~jectionable word illegal" in a tenta-
tive communication now being con-
sidered by President Wilson AYERS that
the killing Of Americans in the LMsi-
tanta disaster was without intent, be-
caus the destruction Of he Cunard
liner was an act Of reprisal and the
German government agrees that re-
prisals should not be applied to neu-
trails.
1t was indicated that the tentative
form or settlement which, should it
o acceptable to the United States,
would be embodied in a formal COM
munication from Germany, approaches
nearer the desires of the United States
than any yet submitted with authority
OF Berlin officials.
An Act of Reprisal.
The agreement is prefaced with the
statement that submarine warfare In
the North sea was inaugurated by
Germany in retaliation for what she
regarded as "the illegal" British block
ade in the orders in council" 1t then
states that the method of conducting
submarine warfare in the North sea
has been modified on account Of the
friendship Germany has for the United
States, and because Of the fact tina
American lives have been lost.
Germany says that the killing of
Americans was not intended, because
reprisals should not be extended to
neutrals, and in addition to express
ing regret for the loss of American
lives, IN liability and offers rep
aration in the form of indemnity.
h last portion of the document ex-
| presses the readiness of Germany to
cooperate with the United States In
any effort looking toward the freedom
of the seas.
Had issued an Order.
From high diplomatic quarters came
the statement that Germany believes
that she has. with the exception of
making an out and out disavowal Of
the Lusitania's sinking, which she
considers impossible, conceded every
demand of the United States. n hat
the tentative proposal materially
strengthens the assurances already
given in the negotiations over the
sinking of the steamship Arabic 1t
Is also claimed THAT the tentative pro-
| posal covers all the fundamental is
sues involved in the conduct of sub
marine warfare in the North sea.
Commander Followed Orders.
1t is expected that ~ direct disavow-
al was given for the sinking of the
| Arabic because that act was in viola
ton of the instructions given the COM
manders of submarines. In the Lust
tania case, however, the commander
acted in accordance with orders.
The position Of Bcrlin's officials is
said to be that the act OF n
der of a submarine can be disavowed
should be violate, disregard or have
failed to receive Instructions. but that
q government cannot Gisavow an act
which was committed in ac~cordance
with its instructions and for which IL
is responsible.
Responsibility Conceded.
In the latest proposal there IL; no
attempt to deny responsibility for the
sinking OF the Lusitania. Germany as
sumes liability for the American lives
lost, offers PREPARATION by the payment
of indemnity and assures the United
States that the killing of Americans
was without intent. The tentative com
munication also states that the method
of conducting submarine warfare in
the North sea has been modified be-
cause of friendship for the United
States and because of the fact that
American ives had been lost.
- 3