Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-25
NEAR
IN LUS|TAN|A CASE
Germany Submits Another Writ
ten Proposal Designed to
End Controversy.
GREAT SECRECY PREVAILS
Objectionable Phrases Eliminated
and Superfluous Discus
sions Stricken Out.
GREAT SECRECY PREVAILS

| WASHINGTON. January 2i.-Ger-
many has submitted TO the United
States. through Ambassador Won Bern
storn, another written proposal de-
signed TO bring about Il settlement of
! the controversy over the sinking OF the
l.usitania, with a loss of more than
100 American lives. There were indca-
tions tonight that the document might
tring to n satisfactory termination ne
gotiations which nave peen in progress
for eight months
! Although the greatest secrecy sur
rounds the negotiations. it was stated
tonight on excellent authority that
Germany had finally agreed 10 elitni-
nate from the text Of the agreement
I any mention of the warning issued By
( the German embassy the day the I.usi-
I tania sailed on her last trip from New
York. Mention of this warning is un-
derstood to have been contained in the
las, proposal which was rejected after
President Wilson had considered it;
Ii is understood also that Germany
has left out OF her proposals general
/ reservation of admission of wrongdoinE
! on the part OF her submarine com
mander to which the United States
! objected.
WANTS L. =. TO TAKE UP
/ FREEDOM OF SEAS
II was stated authoritatively also
4 that in her last communication Ger
! many makes some reference of "a de-
+ sire 10 see the United States take some
action in regard to the questions in
, volvinE the freedom of the seas
The German ambn ssador and Score
! tary Lansing probably will confer re-
garding the proposal in the immediate
I future
! Germany rciterates clearly, it. Is
said. that the torpcdong of the I.usi-
tania was an act OF reprisal for the
British blockade Of the German coast.
+! Extreme regret again is expressed that
Americans lost their lives in the com
b., mission of the rcprisai, and Germany
! freely offers reparation in the form OF
indemnity. The attention OF the
I United States is called to the fact that
such forms OF reprisals have been dis
D., continued as the result of negotiations
/ with this government and to the fact
that broad assurances for the future
: have been given. All discussions con-
sidered supernuous have been stricken
{ from the proposal
Consideration Of public opinion IN
this country and Germany were said
10 have played an important part in
the drafting OF the document II has
been pointed out that German public
opinion would not look with approval
upon form OF settlement which i'm
any way admitted that, regardless OF
the Americans involved. the torpedo
ing of the LuSitania was an imDrorer
act. and which might reflect upon the
commander OF the German submarine
who was acting under Instructions
which since have been modified. In
view of these instructions. Germany
may admit in the final settlement that
il was wrong that Americans shou-
have been lost without concedinr il
was wrong for the commander 10 fire
a torpedo NJ the liner
GERMANY MOST ANXIOUS
TO SETTLE CONTROVERSY
The German government is under
stood TO he most anxious to settle the
matter in manner mutually satisfac-
terry 10 both governments, but does not
think it is honorable to accept the
views OF the United States
An optimistic feeling seemed 70 pre-
vail in both diplomatic and onicia'
circles
new proposal is understood 10 nave
reached the German embassy late last
week. The proposal is understood TO
have been received by Secretary Lans-
ing last night or early to-day. and
submitted TO the President. The docu-
ment is said to cover abou; one and
one-half sheets of ordinary letter
paper.
That the negotiations have been near
a termination several times within the
past month is known. though President
/ Wilson. Secretary Lansing and the
! German amba ssador are virtually the
only ones in the secret OF the eX-
changes.
Count Won Bernstorn is undcrst ood
to have personally drafted the pro-
posal now under consideration. He
has been operating under wide latitude.
| which has been allowed him by his
government; submitting To Berlin from
time to time the more important qucs-
tions involved. After his last pro-
posal was rejected. he is understood
TO have asked his government for
permission to eliminate from the text
! OF the document all matter objection
able TO the United States
WILL SEND HEJoINDER
TO LAST ANCONA NOTE
With prospects Of settlement OF the
Lusitania dispute near finish. the
United States is 10 dispatch it's forth
coming rejoinder to Austria -FIunEary's
last Ancona note.
The note. in a broad sense is in
satisfactory tone. Certain officials be-
lieve that Austria-liungary' attempt
to justify the torpedoing Will be over
come. They arc unable to agree that
forty minutes was more than sufficient
time to AFFORD the persons on board an
opportunity for embnrkation, and do
not consider that therc was justifica-
ton for the theory that the COM
mander Of the submarine torpedoed tho
vessel TO accelerate" embarkation, or
because steamer, presumably an
enemy cruiser. appeared on the horizon
Assurances that the incident would not