The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-02-05
KAlSER'S GOVERNMENT
WILL EXPRESS REGRET
Final instructions, 1t Is Report.
ed, Have Been Forwarded 10
Count Won Bernstorff-M 0 st
Serious Crisis.
BERLIN (yia LOndOn) Feb

bHIlLl4N WA LOnQOn), FEB 4sre-1I2-
formation reaching the press IA bu
reau today indicates that undeI8 no
circumstances will Germany 8sa,ilait
that the sinking of the LusitaIsis mas
an illegal act. 9ss
The new instructions forwa8Sled TO
Ambassador Won Bernstorff #5eortf;ng
to this information, contains siInDly
one phrase of the new fornaNIdtf6ll' OF
the proposed note of regret55lor5 Inc:
sinking of the Lusitania. The IA ass Il
ed Sentance iS-She ~ 44iss+-
eight words and does not contain TN
word illegal 1t represents tie oxs
treme limit of Germany's concesf ems
in the Lusitania case.
The view is entertained here that
one of the most serious crises OF me
war has arisen in connection with the
Lusitania case and that it is imp0s-
indications here. The result Of the &c
gotiations appears to hinge solely on
the single word illegal" In the way
Of an agreement between the United
Estates and Germany stand only these
seven letters, expressing the concep
ton which President Wilson and Sec
retary Lansing insist must be embod-
led in the German formula expressing
regret for the loss Of American lives
aboard the Cunarder.
The Associated Press is informed
positively and authoritatively that
Germany cannot and will not desig-
nate as illegal the sinking of a liner
by any submarine.
Virtually no other difficulties in the
way of settlement remain, and the
new instructions forwarded to Ambas-
sador Won Bernstorff on Tuesday CON
tain merely the new formula by which
it is hoped to satisfy Washington
without humiliating this country. Al
though the suggested sentence, ac-
cording to a reliable version, consists
of only eight words and does not con-
tain the word illegal" or charact ar-
ize the sinking of the Lusitania as
such. 1t goes otherwise to the fur
ing American desires.
DR.. Alfred Zimmerman, under sec
retary of foreign affairs, in ar inter
view with the Associated Press, eX-
pressed the hope that the new formula
forwarded to Ambassador Won Bern
storff would offer a possible basis of
settlement. However, he made no eff
fort to conceal the gravity of the situ-
d alton and was most explicit in his
statements that Germany had reached
her extreme limit of concessions and
under no circumstances would CON
cede the illegality of her submarine
campaign in the war area.
"The government is willing to do
everything in its power and has done
everything in its power, to meet Amer
ican Wishes" he said, "but there are
limits beyond which friendship snaps
81 do not understand America S
course. We had thought the subma
rine issue settled and the Lusitania
question On the way to arrangement
had agreed to pay indemnity and all
fhat-when the United States sudden
Nsmade its new demands which it is
impossible for us to accept.
''You must not push your demands
too far You must not attempt tc
humiliate Germany"
DIR. Zimmerman declined to discuss
these new demands or the instructions
to Count Won Bernstorff more pre-
cisely, but he left no doubt that the
whole crisis centered on Secretary
Lansings demand that Germany dis
avow the sinking of the Lusitania as
an act contrary 70 international law
The under secretary declared repeat
edly that Germany could not possibly
admit this procedure was illegal Oh
make concessions which virtually
would take the submarine weapon ou
of her hands. He asserted again anC
again that if the United States desired
to drive matter to breach German!
could go no further to avoid it anC
that the breach, with all its lamenta
BILE consequences, must come.