The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-07
LUS|TAN|A CASE
CONCLUSIONS To
Be REACHtC.TODAY
President Wilson Will Receive
Findings of Secretary Lam
sing and Counsellor Polk
SAY STATE DEPARTMENT
RECEDES FROM POSITION
Not to Insist on Words Dis
avowal' or Illegal In Terms
of acknowledgements Has
Made Concessions

Va ASA AAA~A+1
Made Concessions
Washington, Feb. 6.-Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary OF
State Lansing are scheduled to
begin final consideration OF the
Lusitania case at Il conference
at the White House tomorrow.
The President has had the Ger
man reply before him since 1T
was delivered to the State De-
partmcnt by Count Won Bern
stortf Friday.
Secretary Lansing and Conn-
selIor Polk have held several
and have reached
definite conclusions, which viii
be submitted to the President
tomorrow.
From an authoritative
source it was learned to-
day that the State Depart
ment has receded from the
position set forth in the
formal notes to Berlin that
there must be an express
disavowal or an admission
in so many words that the
sinking of the Lusitania
was an illegal act.
The United States does
not insist on the words
"disavowal'' or illegal"
in the terms of settlement,
it was said today. It is
willing to leave to Ger
many the choice of words
to convey this meaning.
This explanation is taken az
an admission that the State
Department is willing TO accept
an implied instead of an ex-
plicit admission of the illegali-
ty of the Lusitania attack.
Whether the President will
make this concession in return
for those made by Germany in
the reply now under considera-
ton is the question remaining
unanswered tonight, for the
President has given no intima-
ton whatever as to his atti-
tude.
If the United States will con-
cede this point, it was thor
oughly understood in official
and diplomatic quarters to-
night, there can be no doubt or
the prompt settlement of the
Lusltania controversy.
Germany has already conceded the
other main demand of the United
States by admitting obligation to pay
Indemnity for American lives lost. in
stead of Offering such Indemnity as
act of grace in the earlier negotia-
lions.
The United States has stood ire
vocably on the proposition that Ger
many should not pay for the victims
of the Lusitania simply as a gratuitv
without coupling this payment with
definite announcement of a principle
which will become international law.
Germany Gone Her Limit
BY sources close to the German ern-
bassy it was said today that Berlin
has gone as far as ii intends TO go
in meeting the demands OF the United
States. This is well understood by
President Wilson and Secretary LAM
sing and the problem for the Fresi-
dent to decide is whether the ac-
Acknowledgement by Germany that tha
sinking of the Lusitania as an act
of retaliation was mot justified" when
it imperiled the safety of neutrais
goes far enough to satisfy the United
States.
The belief persisted today that the
long drawn out Lusitania negotiations
are near satisfactory solution. There
was nothing to lessen the feeling en-
couraged by the three days of inaction
since the latest Lusitania communi-
ication was received from Berlin. that
Germany's offer of settlement will be
accepted by this government, though
admittedly IL does not fully meet
American demands.
May Refuse Concessions.
But In all this talk of favorable
settlement there is the reservation that
President Wilson may take the bit In
his teeth and still refuse the conces-
sions.
In view OF the German officials II Ii
inconceiyable that the President will
take this position. To do SO, Teutonic
believe. would be to force
forts made by the German governs
ment to go to the extreme limit, even
of offending public sentiment at home
to meet American demands.
One fact that led officials to be,sIs
lieve that the President v fav--~A