New-York tribune., 1916-02-12
LANSING DENIES
HUMBLNG BERLIN
Asserts u. S. Asked Moth
ing Germany Could Not
Give with Honor.
Prom ;hs rri5une Bureau. }


Washington. Feb. i1.--Secretary Lam
sing acknowledged tonight that ne had
given a statement on the Lusitania case
TO the Wolf Bureau, a semi-of'icial
news agency here. for publication in
Germany. He said in this statement
that the United States had asked moth
ing in the Lusitania case that Germany
could not give with honor and dig
nifty" he refused 10 comment on the
statement.
Oficsl Washington IS puzzled by
this interview. Tn. Secretary has made
it a rule since he has been in Office 20
give no interviews, and he has empha-
sized his refusal 10 depart from the
rule during the Confidential negotia-
,ions" on the Lusitauia.
Either it mean. nothing or Il means
great deal" said All official tonight.
Looked At in one wsy. it is plati,ude.
II the Secretary meant it that way, and
made IL clear that he meant il that way,
ir is not worth cable tolls. But il may
mean that ths Secretary ;s pleading for
what he mas failed 70 get by demanding.
II IL means that, IL IL certainly news.
Until the SecretAr- tells which way he
meant it, however. there Ia - use spec
ulsting about it."
Expressions similar 20 that OF NJ
Lansing were obtained from Chairman
Stone OF the Senate Committee on For
eign Relations. Chairman Flood OF the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
and Vice President Marshall
Secretary Lsnsing's views we're Sc
forth "a follows;
when Secretary Of State Lansing:
attention was called 10 the interview
purporting to have been given by ;hr
German Chancellor, ne said that, while
he dislixed 70 comment on press dis
patches of this sort, its authoritative
character seemed 20 require it, in order
that a wrong impression might be re
moved lie went on 70 say that he was
at loss 10 understand what the Chan
cellor meant by the requirements oi
this government being an impossible
humiliation.
He said that nothing had been
asked of Germany which was not rea'
sonable and fair and With which ma
tiOn could not comply without doing
violence to its honor and dignity; that
this governments demands had not
been increased since they were mad
on May | last; that IL had sought n
every way in the controversy 20 show
the greatest consideration 70 the Ger
man government and people. and
though its efforts 20 this end have ap-
parently been misinterpreted IL would
continue 20 90 so. in order that ~ g
unfortunate dispute may n possible be
honorabiy arranged out Of sincere
wish 70 maintain the traditional friend
Is relations between the United State
and Germany
Following is the statement az 10 Sen.
stOr Stone
Senator Stone declared that il is his
confident belief that no officer con-
nected with the government OF the
United States las any wish or purpose
70 humll.ate the German government
or the German people. Furthermore.
he did not believe that D. - within the
power Of any government ofiicla. here
70 humilla,e Germany"
Representative Flood said
u DO not think that there cxis.s any
desire on the part Of any ole connected
with the American government 10 re-
qu.re or attempt 20 require any actio,
on the part of the German governrnen-
that would 10 the least humihate Ter.
many. Our government and our ucopl,
are most friendly toward German. ana
this governmeHt has only lemlrde,
what has been absolutely necessary un.
der the clrcum stances. There IS Ger.
tainly 10 desire 20 take from Gerrany
any proper weapon that she might en-.
ploy. l. IL most unfortunate that these
criticisms come al this particular and
critical time"
NicePresident Marshall was quoted
es saying:
II have the utmost confidence in the
State Department. and believe that II
is only trying 20 uphold the recog-
nized principles Of international law
and maintain them impsrtislly agains,
all belligerents. We do not want 20
humillate Germany. Nothing Is fur.
ther from our thoughts. We do not
want war. We want peace. but peac,
with honor. and all that our admins
tration is trying 70 accomplish is an
smlcahle settlement. honorable 20 both
sides