New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-08
American Position is
What 1t Has Been,
Says Lansing.
REPRISALS ONLY
FOR ENEMIES
Germany Agrees That u
Boats Must Not Kill
NeutralS.


Washington. Feb. The Lusi-
tana situation was described at the
State Department to-day a. "un-
changed" As President Wilson had
not yet conferred with Secretary
Lansing on Ambassador Won Bern
storff's newest proposals. The Presi-
dent will take up with his Cabinet
tc c-mOrrow the memorandum by
which Germany hopes 10 end the ne
gotiatlons amicsbly. Official indica
t!on or announcement whether the
offcr Of the Berlin government is
satisfactory is expected soon there
after.
The President did not request Sec
Rotary Lansing to come to the White
house to-day. The Secretary eX-
poets to discuss the latest proposal
with The President tomorrow. II is
Lelieved in Teutonic diplomatic cir
ciea that Count Won Bernstorf may
Do summoned to the State Depart
Mcnt some time during the afternoon
END Informed Of the decision Of the
United States
Reprisals Only Against Enemies.
Germany has agreed that reprsais
must not be directed against any
other than enemy subjects. It has
become known that the German gov
eminent expresses the hope that 1t
may have the opportunity 20 coop
crate with the United States in some
action looking toward freedom Of the
seas before the end of the war.
High government officials declare
positively that the United State.
has not receded from the position
taken IN the formal notes of last
summer. when Germany was called
OF to disavow the Lusitania attack
Whatever terms of settlement are
accepted. it is said. must contain
some expression equivalent TO com
rlete disa"owal. Officials would not
say whether they considered Count
Won Bernstorf's language no the
memorandum now before Secretary
Lansing as adequate TO this demand.
Ar the same lime 10 mas been learned
that President Wilson VIII not stick a.
mere words He is convinced that
disavowal n the literal sense is not
only uno6tainablc but that 1t would be
merely formal IN any case. What ne
would consider equivalent % dis
ayoNal is an admission b. Germany
that the sinking Of the Lusitania. With
attendant loss Of American life, was
unjustiiable.
Count yon Bernstorff. however. con
tends that the destruction of the Lus-
tanis itself cannot be called unjust-
fable. since II was . measure o. re
prisal against an enemy, and proposes
70 admit instead that the destruction
of neutral lives without warning was
unjustifsble II IS on this apparently
technical difference, State Department
officials say, that the two governments
have disagreed throughout the informal
negotiations.
German Form Meaningless.
As told in The Tribune to-day, how
ever. the difference is really funds-
mental, and the form that Count Won
Bernstorf proposes Is without re-l
meaning. Germany has con;ended coa-
sistently that the neutrals on the Lusi-
tania were warned" by the new paper
advertisements published just before
the vessel left New York The admis-
sion that an unwarned attack or neu-
trails is justified has therefore no bear
ing on the Lusitanis case at all from
the German point Of view, and begs
the whole question.
Washington is puzzled IN It's attempts
20 reconcile the announcement by adj
ministration officials yesterday that the
situation was slightly improved and
the statements to-day, which apparent
IL render the new German memorandum
as unacceptable as any Of i,s predeees'
sors. Il is known that President vii
son is convinced that break IN rels-
tioas at this time IS impossible because
Of the involved and apparently tech
nical nature of the disagreement.
Without a threat f rupture 20 hold
over the German Ambassador, Il Is
doubted that any further pressure will
avail.
Officials believe. however. that Count
Won BernstorF has not exhausted his
powers IN the matter. They arc con-
vinced that he could make his memo.
rsndum more nearly approximate a
satisfactory answer 20 the American
demands without going 10 Berlin ior