Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-09
ONLY MINOR CHANGES
TO CLARITY WORDING:

rine warfare.
ONLY MINOR CHANGES
TO CLARITY WORDING;
Whils the substance of the proposed
communication admittedly is satiSfac
tory. minor changes to clarity the
wording and in connection with the
form which the formal document shall
take were suggested to-day to Count
Won Eernstorfr, the German ambassador,
by Secretary Lansing. The desire OF
the United States in this connection
we're made known to the ambassador
after President Wilson had discussed
the subject with his Cabinet. Count
Won Eernstorff Immediately informed
tho secretary that he saw no reason
why the changes could not bc made, but
explained in effect that. ~ IA prccaution,
he thought he would he Justified in
submitting tho entire matter to his
government for final approval He did
so in q dispatch sent to Berlin tonight.
and within about six days the resulting
formal commun lea ton Is cXpcc ted.
Secretary Lansing insists. it is stated
by high authority, that 1t shall be
stated specifically In the communi-
cation that il is an answer to tho
last American note regarding tho
Lusitania This and changes deem
cd necessary to clarity certain por-
tiors OF the document, adninistra-
tion officials thought Count Won Born
storff himself would he ablc to make.
The ambassador, however. decided not
to change even the punctuation of the
document without the approval, of his
government. IIc had not deemed it
necessary. il Is said. TO include tho
statement that the communcat ton was
TN, To t,N k,,n
*idcrinS that the same end would be
accomplished by submitting it in the
form OF n memorandum. Admnistrs-
tion officials hold. however. that TO
keen the record straight. il for no other
reason. mention that the conlmunca-
tlom is a reply should be made.
MATvTEt OF SIGNING
SUBMITTED TO BERLIN
The ambassador as yet docs not
know whether his government wants
him to sign the formal note or whether
IL is desired to have the Secretary OF
forcign Affairs do so. This phase also
has been submitted to Berlin.
Assurances were received in high
diplomatic and official circles that the
changes OF wording suggested would
not in any sense alter the meaning. No
notifications. IL was authoritatively
stated. were suggested In connection
with the phrase substituted for the
word illegal" which the German gov
ernment was unwilling to use.
In rcutonic diplomatic circles not the
slightest difficulty over the proposed
changes is anticipated. Apparently
some Of the changes consist merely OF
substituting one word for another,
changing the position OF one phrase OF
words. and striking out words which
in their translation from German TO
English. make the language unusual.
Developments came rapidly to-day.
Secretary Lansing went 10 the White
House an hour before the time set for
the meeting OF the Cabinet to discuss
with the President in detail the tenta-
tive conmunicat ton and analyZe tho
meaning OF the words employed. When
the Cabinet met the proposal was sub
mitted by the President.
"EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT.
BUT IT Is NOT FINISHED,
Late this afternoon Count Won Bern
Storn. who earlier in the day had re-
Quested an appointment, was called 20
the state Department BY Secretary Lam
sing. The TWO remained closet cd in the
secretary's Office for more than half an
hour. The secretary outlined the
wishes of the United States in detail.
AS the Ambassador left tho building hc
said
Everything is substantially all right.
but II is not finished"
y high official OF the admin istration
made this announcement:
"a settlement OF tho Lusita MIA case
is in sight, probably within the next
few days. The United States has not
increased it's demands; IL has not re-
duccd them. You can draw your own
conclusion as TO tho basis OF tho
agreement. The wording proposed by