Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-03
WHAT DOES lT AL NIEAN?

we mad been assured from Wash
ington that the Lusitauia incident
could be looked upon as being about
settled because Germany had agreed
to the American demand not to sink
any more merchant ships without
warning and without looking to the
safety Of passengers and crew. Then
all at once the country was being
told, Secretary of State Lansing had
sent a note to Germany demanding
disavowal Of the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania. AT the same time strong
editorial appeared in President Will
sons official organ, the New York
World, sounding warning to Ger
many. This was followed by alarm
ing utterances Of the President on
his western tour; he was not sure,
he said, that we would not be obliged
to go to war tomorrow. And now
comes despatch Of the Information
al News Service, dated Berlin,
February l. which says:
after being apparently settled to
the satisfaction Of both governments,
the sinking of the Lusitania once
more looms on the horizon Of inter-
national tranquility TO disturb to the
the United States and Germany. I'm
Gil yesterday the feeling prevailed in
Germany that the matter OF the Lusi-
tania as an element of friction had
become thing Of the past. The
Germans, however sure they may
have been OF the justice of the deed
rs measured by rights and principles
have never been proud of sinking the
Cunarder with the attendant loss Of
neutral lives. 1t may be said with
absolute and unquestioned authority
that Germany was thankful when
announcement was made that the
controversy with America had been
adjudicated by the German govern
ment agreeing to make full repara-
ton for the neutral loss entailed--
that is. as fun reparation as was
possible where the loss Of human
lives was involved. Suddenly today
a now situation of immense gravity
exists. Yesterday came news Of a
hitch in the negotiations and, to COM
plicate matters, press reports of an
address by President Wilson, in
which he declared that the United
States must be prepared for war to-
morrow--rot the day after tomor-
row, but tomorrow According to
reports that reached Germany, the
President made it clear that he was
not using o figure of speech, but was
speaking Of war as a possible pend
ing actuality The attitude of the
German empire. as expressed by the
best thought of its people, may be
said tn be one Of bewilderment, not
yet OF aggressive hostility, but of
puzzled wonderment as to the mo-
tiyes Of the United States The Ger
man government accepted the views
of the United States in regard to the
Lusitania, and met the American de-
mand5. Reparation was promised.
Since that time what were supposed
to be the concluding negotiations
have been in progress But what is
more important in the German mind
is the fact that in the meantime the
Berlin government has been rigidly
adhering TO the American idea of
properly restricted submarine war
fare in practice as well as in theory.
There has been no loss OF American
lives TO be laid to a German sub
marine. The Ancona was sunk, but
the archives Of the United States
State Department hold correspon-
dence with Austria toward settle
ment Of that disaster Thus, for the
first time in the diplomatic history
Of this war, one nation IS meeting the
demands OF another in actual prnc-
tice without being able TO satisfy
that other nation. The German gov
crnmcnt naturally accepted the
American theory, else it would have
10 %, -
submarine warfare to which the
United states objected, but now il
seems that, although Germany is
acting according TO American rules,
the theory by which she does so is
not exact. The whole trouble seems
TO come from the fact that the
United States wishes Germany to de-
clare that she feels herself obligated
20 make reparaticn for the loss Of
the Lusitania as well as to repudiate
tho sinking and to promise that such
actions will not be repeated. Hence
the German bewilderment. and what
is more important. the rapidly grow
ing suspicion of the motives of the
American government throughout
tho German empire. In the streets
today Germany is asking, us IL pos
siblc that after all the United States
wants war with Germany? What
else can this mcan2" Everywhere
else this question Is linked with the
Wilson statement warning the
United States that war is an inn
minent possibility and must be pre-
pared for. If the feeling of the Ger
man empire can be Judged by the
statements OF its citizens and the cx-
prcSsions of the press, the situation
is gravcly delicate. The Increased
daring OF Great Britain during the
last few weeks in its interference
with American commerce and mails
is spurring on the German suspicion
Of the Washington administration.
Neither in practice nor in theory
docs the British government seem
to be seriously concerned with the
lidl 0nS yiingcn I'M sic Sric0slogc