New-York tribune., 1916-02-07
Safety for Americans
and Cash for Dead
All Wilson Gains.
PRESIDENT SEES
LANSING TO-DAY
Loss of NeutraIS Fault of
NeutraIS, Bernstorff
Note Implies.

lAf'M iA- AftNAA7 bAlFa*l
Washington, Feb. 6.-The form
of words" which the German Ambas-
sador declared months ago would
settle the Lusitania case has been
approximated, if not found, in his
latest memorandum, it was learned
tonight, and the closing Of the case
is believed to be a matter of hours.
administration officials stated to-day
that the situation was improved, and
from German quarters came the
tCast that the latest Bernstorf offer
"could not be rejected"
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing are expected to confer to-
morrow over the German memoran-
dun. After the conference is over
Count Won Bernstorff is likely TO be
called TO the State Department. In
anticipation of such a summons, the
ambassador has cancelled engage
ments out Of town.
The German offer is so framed as
to DO at once unsatisfactory and ac-
ceptable. It does not touch the main
point, which has been the subject Of
controversy ever since the memoran-
dun was given in the Arabic case,
whether Germany had a right TO kill
noutrals after she had given warm
ing. II does. Of course, renew the
Arabic pledge and promise cash pay
ment. but the whole question Of
warnings is avoided, and the agree
ment with the principle that repris-
ais should not bear on neutrals which
it contains can be. and is, interpreted
by Germany to allow modification in
this respect.
Law Stands Where II Was.
Thus. the offer grants TO the Presi-
dent what he asked in regard to
purely American interests, but does
not meet the demands he made as a
champion Of international law. The
lew stands where it was-the main
principles agreed 20, but the special
ties unsettled. Germany has never
claimed the right TO kill neutrals, OK
cept when they disregarded her
warning. She does not change her
position. And the German Ambas-
sador has carefully explained many
times that if conditions should change
again she would feel entirely justi-
ned in issuing new warnings and re-
newing her submarine campaign as
before.
BY the carefully drawn memorandum
which he has submitted, however, the
ambassador has so fully hidden this
situation that further discussion would
seem TO be mere insistence on particu-
lar phrsseology, technicality of lam
guage, on the part Of the United
States. The President has hesitated to
accept the offer, but is becoming con-
vinced that few in this country could
be brought 10 see their fundamental
inadequacy and insincerity, or 20 sup
port a break in relations based on an
attempt 70 gain the point for which he
originally contended. lie has won Sc
curity for Americans and cash for
Americas dead. and all the signs are
that America will not risk anything on
a question OF honor and abstract law.
Moreover, he is becoming convinced
that the ambassadors statement that
Germany will 90 no further is true,
and that he had best take what he can
get 20 show for his long months OF
effort.
Confessed ID Was II nintentionaI.'
Except that the afronting phrases
are omitted. the memorandum reads
very much like the German notes OF
last summer. Il is more like a justi-
fication OF the Lusitania attack than an
apology for il. Germany sets forth In
PLAUSIBLE terms the reasons for the de-
struction of the Lusitania. without di-
rectly saying il. the inference ls given
that the loss OF neutral lives was the
fault Of the neutrals. All that is con-
fessed b. Germany is that the destruc-
tion of neutral lives was "uninten-
tional"
This has been said already. Il has
been held repeatedly by German eX-
ponents here that Germany demon
strated her intent 10 spare neutrals by
publishing the warning 70 keep OF
British ships he newspaper advertise
ment signed Imperial German En-
bassy' that was referred TO by prcsi-
dent Wilson ir one Of his notes as
surprisingly Irregular
IL IS explained that direct dis
ayoual ugua .