Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-09
BERLIN TO PEN
FINAL NOTE
CONTINUED From First Page.1

CONTINUED From First Page.l
bility' which we're employed in the
tentative draft.
1t is understood that upon this
change and others described also as
minor is based the expressed view of
high officials that the two govern
ments are substantially in accord"
although not wholly so. No new diff
ticulty is expected here from the
change of words. 1t is felt that Ger
many could not or would not assume
liability which she would not recog-
niZe.
II is not believed here that the Ber-
lin officials will hesitate to accept the
suggestion.
Minor Changes
The changes were suggested to Count
Won Bernstorff. the German am
bassador, by Secretary Lansing late
| yesterday after President Wilson and
his Cabinet had gone over the latest
proposal of Germany.
The ambassador Immediately after
ward submitted the whole matter by
cable to the Berlin government for
| final approval. 1t is expected that
reply VIII be forthcoming in about six
days.
In Teutonic diplomatic circles to-day
the belief was expressed that the pro-
| posed changes would be accepted by
the Berlin foreign office.
Substantial Compliance
The memorandum submitted to Sec
retary Lansing on Friday of last week
/ is substantial compliance with the
demands of the American government
for disavowal of the sinking of the
| Cunarder, with the loss of 115 Ameri-
can lives.
1t now remains only for the two gov
ernments TO reach an agreement re-
garding the formalities incident to an
official announcement of a settlement
of the nine months controversy. This
will consist largely in agreement as to
the date on which the formal German
note is to be made public stimuli
taneously in Germany and the United
| States.
The American demands on Germany
were:
Note of May 13-That Germany dis
avow," make reparation" and take
immediate steps to prevent the re-
currence of anything so obviously sub
versive of the principles of warfare"
Note of June 9-"The government of
/ the United States very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-
uons of its note transmitted on the
18th of May"
Note of July 21-"The government
of the United States cannot believe
that the imperial government will
longer refrain from disavowing the
wanton act of its naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania or from Offering
reparation for the American lives lost,
so far as reparation can be made for
the needless destruction of human life
by an illegal act"
Formal Note in Reply
Here is the statement concerning
the situation made by high authority
. of the State Department:
at may be stated that Germany and
the United States are approaching
settlement and it may be assumed that
. settlement will be on the basis of the
7 offer of Friday, which was broad
enough substantially to cover the
United States demands. 1t may be
said to-day that the United States has
not reduced them. Germany and the
United States are substantially agreed
upon those terms. a settlement is in
sight probably within the next few
/ days. The agreement will have to be
put in the form of a formal note.
1T may prove, however. that no ma
terial modification of language will be
/ found necessary. 1t is now practically
a question of penmanship. 1t is not
/ fair to assume that there will have to
I be any further admissions or conces-
/ sions from Berlin
Terms OF settlement
/ 1t is possible to state on the high
/ est authority that the terms of the
settlement are:
! First-Germany admits that acts of
retaliation are wrong when they affect
neutrals. Applied to the Lusitania
/ case, this is an admission by Germany
/ that the sinking of the vessel was not
I justified. 1t is accepted by the United
! States as an admission of illegality, as
/ this government holds reprisaIs illegal.
Second--An offer is made to pay full
I indemnity for the Lusitania dead, not
as an act of grace but as an obligation.
/ Third--Germany repeats her pledge
| that unarmed merchantmen will not
/ be sunk without warning, and without
provision being made for safety of pas
sengCrs and crews, providing they do
not try to escape or offer resistance
/ making a recurrence of tragedy such
as the Lusitania sinking impossible.
Fourth--An expression of deepest
regret is made for the loss of American
/ life on the Lusitania.
Fifth--Attention is called to the fact
that out of Difference for the friend
ship of the United States, and to meet
the wishes of this government, Ger
many practically has given up sub
marine warfare.
StXth--Germany accepts the invita-
tion extended in the note of July 81 to
Cooperate with the United States in
achieving freedom of the seas and is
ready to act at any time in this drec-
ton.