New-York tribune., 1916-02-01
Bernstorff Renewed His
Suggestion to Lansing
a Week Ago.
WASHINGTON SCOUTS
LUSlTANIA CRISIS
Whole Case Now Hangs on Ger
man Reply, Say Capital
Officials.

Washington. Jan. Sl.-Secretary Lam
sing recently rejected a second proposal
from Germany TO submit the Lusitsnis
controversy 10 arbitration, it WAS learn
cd day. In so doing he informed
Count Won Bernstorf that the vital
interests and the national honor Of the
United States were involved, and that
It was therefore not arbitrable. accord
ing TO international custom.
Soon after the Lusitania was sunk
the German government proposed ar
bitration. but President Wilson reject
ed the suggestion on the ground chat
there was no assurance that Germany
would refrain from repeating the out
rage. Now that assurances hsve been
given. Count Won Bernstcrff believes
tha. all obstacles 70 this method of set
Element have been removed
Germany's contention, as set forth in
the second proposal Of arbitration
submitted TO Secretary Lansing, 1t is
understood. about 3 week sGo--is that
the attack on the Lusitania and other
submarine operations against British
shipping were a reprisal, which Is rec
ognized in international law as a legit-
innate weapon against unfair enemies.
Count Won Bernstorff pointed out that
there was nothing in the international
codes which forbade injury TO neutrals
when reprisals were under way and de-
clared that IL was the obvious duty Of
neutrals to avoid danger by needing
Germany's "war zone" warnings.
This declaration, OF course, is con
trary to everything that the United
States has contended from the begin
ming Of the controversy and Secretary
Lansing could not accept Il without
retracting everything that President
Wilson has written IN the correspond
ence with the German government
The rejection Of the new arbitration
proposal is regarded in German quar-
ters here as evidence that President
Wilson is unfairly persisting IN an I'M
possible position for the mere sake OF
/ ]ustifying his notes and that he has
no real desire for resumption OF cor
dial relations.
Efforts 10 ascertain from Admins
tration officials to-day wherein the i'm
mediate gravity OF the international
situation lay ELECTED the statement
T that the crisis was grave, but not dan
gerOus." This remark was explained as
/ meaning that while relations with Ger
many were strained they had not YET
approached the breaking point.
The State Department expects Ber-
/ lin's answer 10 come in another "infor-
nal" communication from Ambassador
Won Bernstorff On this communics-
/ tion, officials said to-day, the outcome
| Of the eight months Of controversy over
/ the LusitsniR hangs.
The real crisis, as informed officials
/ outside the Administration see II, ls
political and not international. No
/ body, they declare. supposes now that
/ there will be break with Germany,
( however unsatisfactory Germany's Of
fers may be But they realize that
/ President Wilson needs, for political
purposes, 8 victory" over Germany
/ and that he is determined TO have II,
/ 30 matter what international interests
/ he may sacrifice.
"Ihere is no longer any place lor
+ diplomacy IN Washington" an official
critic of the President said to-day.
Count Won Bernstorff does not repre-
sent the German government, but the
German vote in this country. That is
where he has the advantage over the
/ Allies. The British Ambassador. the
French Ambassador, the Belgian Min
ister have no votes. Therefore their
diplomacy is futile. Even the Greek
T Minister has more influence than they
because he represents a large number
Of American votes
Secretary Lansing sent Ambassador
Penfeld instructions to-day 10 make
another inquiry about the Persia
Though more than a month has elapsed
since the Persia was torpedoed with
out warning the Austrian government
has not conclusively disclsimed respon-
sibjlitv for IT,