Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-11
REQUEST WRITTEN
BY SUBORDINATE
No Indication That Germany's
Last Lusitania Note Is
Acceptable.
STATUS OF CASE UNCHANGED
Department Explains That Send
ing of Letter to Embassy
Was Inadvertence.
STATUS OF CASE UNCHANGED


Department officials to-day explained
that the recent request OF the German
embassy for permission to publish one
Of Count Won Bernstorns notes on the
settlement OF the Lusitana case was
an inadvertence. At first it was de-
Med that any such request had been
made. but an investigation of the de-
partment's files disclosed a letter pre-
pared by "a subordinate official had
been signed either by Secretary Lam
sing or Acting Secretary Polk, and had
bassy.
State Department officials declaT ed
that too much Importance had been
attached to the request in German off,
cial quarters. and that it was not, as
Interpreted. an indication that Ger
many's proposals were to be accepted
as satisfactory
NO INDICATION THAT
NOTE IS SATISFACTORY
Both Secretary Lansing and Mr..
Polk to-day declared the request was
no indication that the United States
was to accept Germanys representa-
tions. as satisfactory; that the status
OF the entire negotiations still was in
formal. and that none OF the cor
respondcnce was OF nature for publi-
cation at this time. The case Is re-
garded as still unsettled because Of
developments in submarine warfare
and the attitude of the European bel
liGerents on the subject of armed NOR
chantmen which arose last February
at the moment the Lusitania negotia-
tions appeared to be on the point OF
satisfactory conclusion.
State Department officials to-day
broke their silence on the subject. and
asserted that what really happened
was this:
subordinate official who assemblies
the diplomatic correspondence periodi-
cally, compiled and published as n
white hook. wrote the German embassy
letter. which Mr.. Polk admitted was
signed either by himself or by Secrc-
tary Lansing. for permission to publish
one of the Lusitania notes submitted
by the German ambassador on Decem-
ber 4. The embassy replied. giving
it's assent. with the suggestion that
the last note, dated February 16, be
published at the same time. This sug-
Gestion was not answered On tho
other hand. the suggestion that any Of
the correspondence be published was
dropped at once on the decision OF
higher officials that the circum tehces
which interviewed to prevent con-
clusion OF the negotiations had not
been altered. and that the situation
still was In n condition which did not
warrant publication OF any Of the COR
respondence. The embassy was not
informed OF the changed plan. Word
was sent to Berlin that the note would
be made public here.
BELIEVED ACCEPTA
OF NOTE IMPENDING
When Information was received here
"f the request to the embassy and its
reply, German embassy officials were
questioned, and they led inquir-rs to
believe they considered the proceed
ing an indication OF tho impending ac-
ceptance Of the late German proposals
In fact. 1t was stated that the diplo-
matte relations between the United
States and Germany had never been
so satisfactory. from their point OF
view. since they were first imperiled
ny submarine warfare.
This was supplemented further by
characterizing rs absolutely unwar-
ranted recent intimations from Berlin
that undcrsea warfare was about to
be resumed on it's former scale. There
was the added impression that the
United States had been convinced. by
the abandonment of the submarine
campaign since the sinking of the Sus-
sex. OF the sincerity of Germany's ac-
ceptance Of the principles laid down.
Upon that showing they believed the
State Department was about to pub
lish the Lusitania correspondence with
an implication, at least. of its accepta-
bility. This view Of the situation was
laid before Acting Secretary Polk on
Wednesday rs having been gained in
German Official circles. Mr. Po.k's re-
ply was Il refusal even to discuss tho
Lusitania case.
SEQUEL TO SITUATION
FURNISHED ny DEPARTMENT
To-day however. as a sequel TO pub
lication Of statement OF the situation
as II had been gained from German
sources and laid before the State De-
partment for comment. the explanation
was made as in the foregoing
The United States government, 1t
therefore appears. does not consider the
matter settled In any sense, any more
than II was last February when the
declaration OF new policy toward
armed merchant ships came up to halt
the negotiations after officials had ad-
mitted informally that Count Won
Bernstorff's note met the demands OF
the American government. and offered
a satisfactory basis for negotiating n
settlement.