Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-10
LUS|TAN|A NOTE
TO Be PUBLISHED
Germany Gives Consent to It's
Use as Formal Docu-
ment.
INDICATES ITS ACCEPTANCE
Next Step Probably Will Be Eff
fort to Collect Promised
Indemnity.
INDICATES ITS ACCEPTANCE

United States has asked for and re-
c"ived permission from Germany 10
publish as n formal document the last
note in the I.uy,ania case in which
Germany recognizes liability" prom
iscs TO make rcparation by the pay
ment Of Indemnity. gives assurances for
the future and declares that rcprisals,
such as ruthless submarine operations
must not he directed at other than
enemy subjects
Tho note was submitted by Count
Won Bernscorff nearly six months ago
and the State Departments intention TO
publish Il is believed 20 indicate its
acceptance
Acting Secretary Folk declined to-day
20 discuss plans Of the United States
IN regard 10 the Lusitania ease. or to
disclose when the document would be
given out. The communication dated
February Is last deals only with the
principles involved. and does no, men,
,ion the amour, Of indemnity Germany
ls 10 pay, or how or when the amount
Will he agreed upon.
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY
HAS not BEEN DISCUSSED
Until now there has been absolutely
no discussion between Count Won Bern
tween Ambassador Gerard and the Ber-
lin Foreign Office regarding the ques-
tion of indemnity Tho German gov
eminent is represented as feeling that
having sign!hcd It's willingness TO make
reparatiou. the United states must
make The next move toward secur-
ing IT,
The communication, when submitted
by Count Won Bcrrstorft regarded
rs being tentative. and the United
States rcfrained from accepting ii be-
cause OF the declaration by the central
powers OF their intention 10 treat as
warsh!ps armed merchant ships OF the
entente allies. During the discussion
of this declaration and the negotiations
over the attacks upon the channel
steamer Sussex and other vessels
carrying American citizens the com
munication. which stands as Gcrmany's
formal reply TO the las, American Lusi-
tania note. has lain in the state De-
partmcnt uuacted upon
Having secured further assurances
regarding the conduct of submarine
warfare at the time of the negotiations
over the Sussex disaster. the state
Department decided TO await develop
rnents. principally with the idea of de-
,crmining how Gcrmany's assurances
would bc observed.
II has been indicated by officials OF
the department recently that II APP
parently heinE evident that Germany
was living UP 10 her promises, the
Lusi;an!a note. the wording Of which
occupied much OF the time OF Sccrc-
,ary Lansing and Count Won Bernstorff
over a period of many weeks should
be published The Berlin Foreign
Office offered no objection
HUNDREDS Or CLAIMS
HAVE BEEN FILED
Hundreds Of claims for lives and
property lost on III" Lusitan!a are on
file in the state Depar tment. Heirs of
victims have filed claims ranging from
$1,000 TO $1,000 900 each. The total or
the claims on file and details regard
ing them are being withheld.
belief prevails in official and diplo-
matte quarters that the amount of the
indemnity eventually will he deter
mined by n commission, which may not
arrive at conclusions until after tho
war. unless meanwhile Germany should
offer a lump sum. The State Depart
ment has not yet determined whether a
certain sum shall he paid TO the ners
of each victim. or whether. as IN the
case under common law. the remunera-
ton shall be based upon earning ca
pacity of the individual. and the value
OF his life to his heirs.
The note ending tho negotiations over
the principles, signed by Count Won
Bernstorh, opens by referring to the
formal assurances given by Germany
last September that submarines would
not sink unresisting liners without
proper warning and regard for the
safety Of life aboard. II refers to tho
long standing friendly relations be-
tween the United States and Germany,
and asserts that the instructions to
submarine commanders were so definite
ns to permit of no misunderstanding.
IL then says that the warfare around
the British Isles was in reprisal for
what Is termed the 'inhumane" and
illegal" blockade measures of Great
Britain to starve the central powers
into submission.
-.ECOGNIHES LIABILITY
AND EXPRESSES REGRET
Germany. Recognizing liability"
promises to pay indemnity for the
American lives lost, and expresses pro
found regret" for their death. The
note says that reprsals should not be
directed at other than enemy subjects.
and that the killing OF American citi-
IONS was unintentional.
''ln tho last portion OF the document
Germany expresses readiness to CO.
operate with tho United States in any
effort looking toward freedom OF thc
seas.
Diplomats friendly to the central
powers regard news dispatches from
Germany intimating that ruthless sub
marine warfare was about to be re-
sumed as without foundation. Conf
HY ential advices from Berlin are under
Estood to have made 1t clear that the
Tprobability of the Won Tirpitz clemcn:
trfturninG to power was remote.
TRAyEI, Ry no.T TO pArr,Nopr