Arizona republican., 1916-02-07
President Wilson and Sec retary Lansing Expected to Confer Today on Latest Tentative Draft of Ger man Communication
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

hepuDlICdU A. GCdSCu WI
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 6-President Wilson and Secretary Lansing are ex- pected to confer tomorrow on the latest tentative draft of the communication which the German government hopes to bring the negotiations over the Lu- sitania disaster to a satisfactory ter imitation. Information that the outlook for an early settlement of the case again was promising, was received to- night from various diplomatic and of ficial quarters.
 The president has had the tentative draft before him since Friday night In it German officials say, the foreign office has gone as far as it possibly can to meet the position of the United States. From high diplomatic quar- terS tonight came >the statement that Germany believes that she has, with the exception of making an out and out disayoWal of the Lusitania sinking which she considered impossible, con- ceded every desire of the United States and that the tentative proposal ma terially strengthens the assurances al- ready given in the negotiations over the sinking of the steamship Arabic Ii is also claimed that the tentative pro- posal covers all the fundamental issues involved in the conduct of submarine warfare in the North Sea.
 It is'eXplained that a direct disavow- al was given for the sinking of the Arabic because that act was in viola tiOn, of the instructions given the sub marine commanders. In the case of the Lusitania, however, the command CT acted in accordance with instruc- tiOns. The general instruction not to sink liners without warning was given, 1t was disclosed tonight by high au- thority, on the day after the Lusitania went down. It was said that Germany withheld announcement of the fact for strategical naval reasons.
 The position of Berlin officials is said to be that of the act of the com mander of a submarine can be dis aVoWed should be violate, disregard or have failed to have received instruc- tions, but that d government cannot disavow an act which was committed in accordance with it's instructions and for which it is responsible.
 In the latest proposal. there is no at tempt to deny responsibility for the sinking of the Eusitania. But Germany assumes liability for American lives lost offers reparation by the payment of indemnity and assuring the United States that the killing of Americans was without intent. The destruction eof the liner was an act of repriSal for the British blockade under the orders in council, according to the German view, and reprisals should not be ap- piled to neutrals. The tentative com munication also states that the method of conducting submarine warfare in the North Sea has been modified be- cause of friendship for the United States and because of the fact that American lives had been lost
 In this last connection, it was said tonight that it was within the range of that principle some reference might be made in the preface of the com municatiOn, should it be transmitted formally to the United States, to tn, correspondence in the Arabic case. II note to Secretary Lansing on Sep tember ,, Count von Bernsterff, tn German ambassador, wrote that hi!
 instructions concerning our answer to your last Lusitania not contain the following passages: Liners will no 1 be sunk by our submarines withou warning and without regarding tn, safety of the lives of non- combatants provided that the liners do not try t, 1 pSpa no pr offar racictapoo
 These instructions have not vet beel | made formal in connection with tn, Lusitania case directly. At the tim l of the recepit of the communication Secretary Lansing declared that it ap
 peared to be "a reorganization of tn l fundamental principles for which W | have contended"
 | Official and diplomatic circles ar | anxiOusly awaiting the publication Q
 statement concerning the Lusitani | negotiations which Secretary Iansin | said yesterday might be made withi | the next two days. The statement, ! was considered, might be forthcoming
 at any time after President Wilson an, ! Secretary Lansing discuss the proposa
 Count von Bernstorff, the Germa | ambassador, expects to be called to tl ! state department after the conferenC between the president and the secre | tary. That the ambassador believe
 he may be summoned in the near flu
 ture was indicated when it becam known that he had cancelled for tn lrresent engagements out of town. !