New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-30
Lusitania Case Must
Be Settled Now or
Crisis Will Come.
NEGOTIATIONS
TO BE PUBLIC
Informal Conversations
Given Up by Wilson
as Useless.
From the Tribune Bureau. J

From the Tribune Bureau.
Washington. Jan. PA note
amounting practically to an ultima
tum will be sent to Germany, it was
learned to-day, unless full satisfac-
tion is given for the Lusitania mas
sacre within a reasonable time
This information was obtained after
a high administration official had de
clared that the situation was "graver
than it had been for some time, and
the country ought to know il"
No definite date has been fixed
within which Germany must reply to
the strong representations made to
Ambassador Won Bernstorff this
week, Secretary Lansing announced
to-day, but it is assumed that, unless
a request for time is received from
the German government, the Secre-
tary will act soon after President
Wilson's return from his speaking
tour.
The procedure against Germany
still follows the general outlines OF
thst used against Austria in the
Ancona crisis. Although it IS not
expected that an actual ultimatum
will be sent, because President Will
son believes that would be too provo
cative. this government will tel
Germany in plain words, in formal
note that will be made public, that no
further delay will be tolerated.
A, the State Department it was de-
clared that the Lusitania negotiations
remain lust where they stood early in
the week. when Count Won Bernstorit
transmitted TO Berlin q new draft OF
the proposed agreement, which en-
bodied all the points for which the
United States contends. The new draft
ia understood to provide tha, Germany
shall disavow the destruction OF the
shin and acknowledge as matter OF
law the rights Of the neutrals who were
lost.
Anxiety Over Austrian AFFAIR.
Anxiety over the relations with Aus
tria is rapidly growing. A month has
elapsed since the Persin was sunk. and
the State Department is az loss TO
understand why Austria has not yet
definitely disclaimed responsibility for
sinking the vessel. Secretary Lansing
has prepared d new note Of inquiry to
be forwarded 20 Vienna.
The realization that practically moth
ing has been gained through the I'm
formal conversations" with Ambassa-
dor Won Bernstorff. which were herald
ed months ago o. the sure method OF
reaching a satisfactory understanding
between the two governments. has
forced President Wilson to the concIu-
sion that he must depend on formal
notes In dealing with Germany.
Count Won Bernstorfs objects TO this
method. as he believes il Is impossible
for governments to get together" by
means of published correspondence. lie
believes there would never have been a
Lusitania crisis IL President Wilson
had arranged 70 settle the controversy
az the start through confidential con-
versutions.
The State Departments objection to
this view il that the conversations with
Ambassador Won Bernstorf are not and
never have been CONFIDENTIAL Al
though Secretary Lansing has main
tanned a scrupulous secrecy throughout
the negotiations, the cireumstsntial sc-
counts that have been published con-
cerning their progress. colored with
optimistic predictions of happy oat-
come. have annoyed the Secretary and
caused him TO doubt the good faith Of
the ambassador
confidential Conversations Farcical." !"
There can be no confidential con-
atoms" The Tribune has been told
by an administration official. unless
the confidence is mutual. For this gov
ernment 70 continue by that method i.
farcical. II simply means that the per-
son who violates the confidence can
indulge In newspaper propaganda 20 his
hearts content and without fear Of
contradiction, so long as he is sure
tha. the other person will abide by the
agreement 70 say nothing.
1T Is perfectly true that we have OBJ
.ained absolutely nothing from Germany
through informal negotiations that we
could not have obtained II the whole
world had been present during Secre-
tary Lansing's conversations with Am
hassador Won Bernstorf. Instead, we
have been misled and the people have
been misled by newspaper campaign
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