Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-08
ANOTHER CONCESSION
IS MADE BY GERMANY
SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT
Though Still Directing to al
legality" of LuSitania At
tack, Berlin VituaIIysAdmits
II in Different Language
CBy Associatea Press.)

WASHINGTON. Feb. T.-Germany mas
agreed that reprisals must not be d.
rected against any other than enemy
subjects. This expression is offered by
Germany TO take the place OF the phrase
containing the word Illegal which was
incorporated in the draft OF the Lusi-
tAnia agreement now under considera-
ton
IL also became known that Germany
expresses hope that IL may have the
opportunity to cooperate with the
United States In some action looking
toward the freedom OF the seas before
the end OF the war.
Furthermore. the German government
refers TO the British blockade of Ger
many as being inhumane. calls attention
TO the fact that neutral vessels have
been affected by the efforts OF the Brit
ish government TO starve Germany, and
puts forth the contention that the Ger
man retaliation In the war zone around
the British Isles is justified by the ac-
ton Of Great Britain. Claims that the
reprisals are legal are not mentioned.
AS has been previously stated, Ger
many says in the communication that
ne killing OF citizens OF the United
States was without intent and that the
method OF conducting warfare around
the British Isles has been changed out
OF regard for the long-standing friend
ship between the United States and
Germany and because American lives
we're lost.
STONE SEES SETTLEMENT
Chairman Stone, Of the senate foreign
relations committee. said today after
conferences with administration officials
that IL was his impression that the Lusi-
tsnia case was practically settled" He
did not go into details
Administration officials let it be
known today that q mere choice OF
words will not be permitted 20 stand IN
the way OF success Of the Lusitania ne
gottztions. and that the United States
will not insist on the use Of the word
Illegal" or ''disavovaI' in Germany's
acknowledgment that sinking OF the liner
without warning and the loss OF lis
American lives was wrong
Inasmuch as the proposal now before
President Wilson and Secretary Lansing
Is described in German quarters as sub
stituttng for the word Illegal phrase
which Germany hopes win be acceptable
TO the United States as covering the
same point without humiliating Ger
many and having regard for public opin-
ion in that country. this announcement
was taken as strengthening the optimis-
tic atmosphere. which surrounds the ne
gotiations. and possibly leaving open the
way to continued negotiation
The principal consideration OF the
limited States Just now. IS that there
shall be an acknowledgment BY Germany
that the sinking OF an unresisting mer-
chairman without warning Is IN contra
vention Of international law, and such
naval warfare shall be permanently dis
- IL
that such assurances already have been
given in the Arabic case and that all
that remains in the Lusitanta case Is
reservation for the lives OF neutrals and
an acknowledgment that IL was wrong
to destroy them
LANSING AND WILSON CONFER
This is contained in the German pro-
posal as at present forwarded without
the specific use OF the word illegal
whether the phraseolOgy substituted
e acceptable to the United States is the
auiy point 10 be decided This prob
abIv will be decided before tomorrow.
President Wilson will confer about II
with Secretary Lansing today, and
meanwhile the situation remains I'M
changed
Secretary Lansing today fatty denied
that new demands had been in the Lust
tania case at a time when the German
government considered the negotiations
practically were at an end. He was
speaking Of Berlin dispatches quoting
the references by DR.. Zimmerman, Ger
man under -secretary OF foreign affairs,
TO new demands"
This government" said Secretary
Lansing, has not increased the de-
nands made in the Lusitania case as set
forth in the notes OF May 13, June 8
and July Il. I doubt IL DR.. thinner
mann ever made the statement that new
demands had been injected. because he
must know that IL is utterly false"
Secretary Lansing would not go into
details or discuss DIR. Zimmermann' s
statement further When DR.. thinner
MAINS statement was published IN this
country. however, his reference to new
demands was taken to apply to posi-
bic construction on the word 'fllegaf
IN the proposed form OF settlement The
only ground American officials could
find for constituting that as embodytng
a new demand was the possibility that
IL might be considered applicable not
alone TO the destruction Of neutrals on
the Lusitania but also as to the meth
cd by which she was sunk