New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-09

.bc slichtest difficulty over the pro-
nosed changes is anticipated. In fact.
A, is said. Berlin officials probably VIII
nrediatelv authorize them, none oelns
81 nature 90 require more than pass
inc consideration. Apparently some OF
thc changes consist merely OF suosu
.utinr ono word for another, changing
ne position Of one phrase OF sen
tence without changing even the WORDS
and striking out words which IN tnelr
translation from German 70 hngl'Sn
make the language unusual
Development. came rapidly to-day
SECRETARY Lansing went 20 the white
House an hour before the time set Tor
.bo Meeting Of the Cabinet 10 discuss
,,itb The President in detail tho tenta-
tive communication and snalyze the
meaning Of the words employed. Nhen
the Cabinet met the proposal was SUB
mittcd by the President.
Bernstorff Sees Lansing.
Ts.o This afternoon Count Won Bern
s,orF who earlier in the day had re-
ouested an appointment, was called %
the State Department by Secretary
Lansing. The two remained closeted
in the Secretary's Office for more than
half an hour. The Secretary outlined
tho wishes Of the United states in De
tail. As the Ambassador left the build
ing he said:
Everything e. substantially all right
but IL is not finished"
In taking the precaution 20 submit 20
Berlin the changes suggested Count
,on Bernstorir. IL generally IS believed
VAS actusted by desire 70 ooviate any
possibility that the communication
isfor might BE rcpudiatcd because OF
"a SLIGHT difference in language. Inc
Ambassador. 10 was explained, had 20
De- careful not TO exceed his insruc-
tions I'm the slightest degree The Ter
man government. 10 is known. has IN
one instance in the past shown som
reluctance in approving a settiemeh'
,rado by one Of its diplomatic repre-
.cntatives because 70 embarrassed to
certain extent relations with an ally.
Officials appeared 20 be reluctant 70
proclaim what achievements have oeen
rained There were indications that
his was caused by probably considera'
ZION for the political situation IN yer
many. Il is believed IN Various qua,
Gers that 10 would be most undeslrapIe
at this time 20 have the German goN-
cumenta majority made the target TO-
rcsentful public opinion which migh'
act in favor Of the minority with Wh'c'
Admiral Won Tirpitz is affiliated.
Great satisfaction ia expressed po'h
ID The State Department and the Ger
man Embassy that d solution has at
1.t boen found. satisfactory 70 the
United states and yet not Illuminating
10 Germany. u
lecaiit. Of marine repr!sals is omitted
IRON, the document. This course per
.rifs each government 70 preserve us
oo-, INTERPRETATION of this point. ber-
lin holds that reprisals against the IL
'eeal acts OF an enemy are leKaI as
wen as justified, while the United
states contends, as it declared IN the
-ote Of July q. that reprisals by their
verv nature are Illegal, though they
may be justified by circumstances
Many Officials Dissatisfied.
"A understood to-day. the conees-
sions are unsatisfactory 70 many OF
fcials. who see no material gain over
The offers OF several weeks ago, when
President Wilson rejected. II 10 pc
ieved that Germany can still MAINTAIN
that the Lusitsnia victims were
warned" within the meaning OF inter
national law.
II is believed, however. that Presi-
dent Wilson was convinced mat 10 re
ect this memorandum would be 70
break Of relations or 10 postpone the
settlement indefinitely. He had already
declared that Germany must come 10
terms without further delay. and Il is
admitted in Administration circles that
20 mt the matter of longer would Sc
riouslv weaken Mr.. Wilson politically.
Until recently the President had been
convinced that Germany would avoid
q break at all costs Only little more
than three weeks ago IL became sppar-
emit that he would act on this assump-
ton and would attempt TO force Ger
many's hand. Something has happened
IN the meantime 70 change his mind.
II IS believed that that something
was contained in a dispatch from Colo
mel House following his Berlin inter
views. Word has been received mere
That Co.oael House was told r. plain
lGms by German officials that they
we're ready TO face q break rather than
reld further.
This information is coupled with the
knowledge that Germany has largely
-ccuporated from her submarine losses
ana NJ lNANl W u = lA " lNA HNAN++' 80 '''N
North Sea and in the Mediterranean
on q larger scale than ever. The sue
cess Of such campaign would be IA
cilitated greatly. il is admitted, by a
rupture with the United States. Al
though Germany realizes the disad-
rantages that would accrue from an
arrangement and possible hCstilities'
she Is said 20 have weighed them
against the advantages Of submarine
campaign unhampered by neutral pro-
tests. with the balance in favor Of the
latter
No mention Is made IN Count Won
Bernstorff's memorandum Of the arm
ing Of merchant vessels, a. IL IL held
10 be irrelevant 20 the Iusitania case
At the same time. the ambassador I'M
derstands that the United States has
undertaken the protection Of unarm ed
ships only, and that the German sssur-
snces are not 20 be interpreted as eX.
tending 20 armed vessels IL an armed
vessel IS sunk. therefore. the German
government VIII hold that the United
9t6tes has no right 10 protest, regard.
Ices Of how many Americans may be
on board