Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-07
is PHRASE
SUBSTITUTED FOR
ILLEGAL WILL DO
Certain High Authorities Familiar
with Status of Lusitania Case
Consider it Covers
Ground.
OUTLOOK IS PROMISING AGAIN
BernstOrff Appears Extraordinarily
Optimistic After Talk with
Lansing.
GERMANY HAS CONCEDED ALL

WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.--For the
word Illegal" which Germany was
unwilling to incorporate in the ten
tatiye draft of the Lusitanla agree
ment, the Berlin foreign office has
substituted a phrase which certain
high authorities in a position to be
familiar with the status Of the nego-
tiatlons consider covers all the prin-
eiples involved in the question OF
submarine war.
The language substituted for the
Objectionable word Illegal In
tentative communication now being
considered by President Wilson
AYERS that the killing OF Americans
in the Lusitania disaster was with
out intent, because the destruction
of the Cunard liner was an act Of re-
prisal and the German government
agrees that reprisals should not be
applied TO neutrals.
OutIooL Promising.
From various diplomatic and official
quarters tonight came the information
that the outlook Is promising for an early
settlement. II was indicated that the ten
tative form OF settlement, which, should
1t prove acceptable 10 the United States.
would be embodied in a formal communs-
cation from Germany. approaches nearer
the deslres OF the United States than any
yet submitted with authority Of Berlin
officials.
Secretary Lansing and Count Won Bern
storff. the German ambassador, met quite
Informally In the Metropolitan club here
today. They talked for a short time. Al
though Il was not disclosed Just what
was said. there was no intimation that
the ambassador had been informed that
he might have to communicate with his
government on the subject again. In fact
the ambassador seemed extraordinarily
optimistic at the conclusion OF the talk
The Cardinal Points.
The cardinal points OF the tentative
form Of settlement we're obtained tonight.
The asreement is prefaced with the state
ment that submarine warfare in the
North Sea wss lnsugiIrated by Germany
In retaliation for what II regarded as
the illegal British blockade established
by the order-in-couneil. II then states
that the method OF conducting submarine
warfare in tho North Sea has heen 1nodl-
fled on account of the friendship Ger
many has for the United States and be-
cause Of the fact that American lives
have been lost. Germany says that the
killing Of Americans was not inlended.
because reprisals should mot be applied
to neutrals, and IN addition to expressing
regret for the loss Of American Hives as
sumes liability and offers reparation In
the form OF indemnity.
The last portion Of the document ex-
presses the readiness Of Germany to CO.
operate with the United States in any
effort looking toward the freedom of the
seas.
sends Draft 90 Wilson.
Secretary Lansings sent the draft TO
President Wilson last night. He at first
planned to see the president today and
discuss the draft with him. Later. how
ever, the plans were changed and II was
said tonight that the secretary would not
confer with the president until Monday,
unless there should be Unforeseen devel-
opments. Count Won Bernstorff expects
to be called to the State department
some time Monday OF Tuesday. secre-
tary Lansing allowed Il to become known
today that he might have something 10
say on the Lusitania case within the next
few days.