The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-07

duced its demands regarding the
Lusitania. Later in his informal
statement he eliminated the refer.
ence to reducing the demands, ex.
planning that it had no bearing on
| Zimmerman's charges.
But the fiat declaration coming
from the secretary OF state that the
nited States has not reduced its de-
| mands. is believed to bode Ill for Ger.
man hopes that today the president
.. and the secretary might decide to
| meet compromise half way.
Lansings statement follows:
| This government has not increas-
ed it's demands in the Lusitania case
| as set forth in the notes of May IS,
June 8 and July 81. / doubt very
much if DR.. Zimmerman ever made
such statement as he must know
it is utterly false"
The statement is slightly different
from one which Lansing had pre-
! pared to give out. AS first spoken, it
was this government has not in
creased or reduced its demands" etc.
Before continuing. however, the sec
rotary explained he wished to with
draw the words "or reduced He
his denial of Zimm erman's reported
increased its demands. Zimmerman
was quoted by News Agency dis
patch from Berlin Feb. 4, as saying:
Il do not understand Americas
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 that-when the United States sud-
denly made its new demands which it
is impossible for us to accept
You must not push your demands
too far You must not attempt to
humiliate Germany"
( At the same time, however, it was
announced In German quarters that
the tentative proposals by Germany
for closing up the Lusitania negotia-
lions, embody so complete q conces-
sion CT the disputed point that any
compromise on the part of the United
States practically was unnecessary.
In effect it was said, the German
memorandum contains a paraphrase
Of President Wilson's declaration in
his last Lusitania note that however
justifiable the sinking OF the Lusi-
tania might be as an act of reprisal
against an alleged Illegal act Of an
enemy, It was not justifiable where it
luS ll5AlS vi AculidlS.
The pharaphrase offers complete
view, say the Germans. Whether
President Wilson and Secretary Lam
sing so find it, remains to be seen.
Senator Stone, chairman of the SEN
ate foreign relations committee, after
a talk with President Wilson said to-
day: THE Lusitania case seems to
be notwithstanding to the news
papers,
He would not indicate his own opin-
ion.
At the German embassy 1t was said
that no knowledge was had there of
Secretary Zfmm erman's interview
I'VE don't know whether he said it
or why he said it, If he did," said one
official, adding:
st may be he gave that out, as
some OF the crisis rumors are put
out In this country"
London Comment.
LONDON, Feb. THE London aft
ernoon newspapers expressed widely
divergent views today on the German
American situation arising out of Ger
many's refusal to disavow the Lusi-
tania sinking.
1T fs folly to expect war when the
affair Is reduced to a mere quarrel
over words" said the Pail Mall Ga
zette.
I'VE are unable to imagine Amer
lea conserving to accept mere finan-
cial satisfaction for the lives of help
less citizens" said the Globe.
The Birmingham Post sal l it must
be admitted that the situation had
reached a crisis in which one side or
the other must back down.