The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-09
EXPECTS ATisFit1oai CLOSE

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f. aiis.slaA --~-~----~e- = : - sg@,.
OUTLOOK EOR. SUPPLEMENT OF
LUSITANIAGASE SEEMS
PROMISING.
l'f>'s-S - -se -'-----------s sA .4-sy 90.
i'residents.and; Secretary Lansing to
Confer Today ON ,Llatcs Commuaica-
ton from Gcrmany~-Responyibilisy
Is not Denied by Berlin, but Act is
Not Admitted to be legal.
"si" t,tJ lrs fass sas..,a
f. washington. Feb. d 6.-President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing are .ex-
pected to confer tomorrow on, the
latest tentative draft. Of the .communi-
cation the German government. hopes
will bring the negotiations over the
|Lusitania. disaster to a, satisfactory
termination Information, that the
outlook for an early settlement ofthe
case again was promising was received
tonight from various diplomatic and
official quarters. .,.z a. 81 .ss...tA. /.
+ The president has had the tentative
draft before him since Friday, night.
In It Germany says the German for
+eisn office has gone, as far as it pos
'stbiy can .eFmeet the !, position Of the
United States. From high diplomatic
quarters tonight comes the statement
that Germany has with the excep-
ton Of making U out and out dis
avowal Of the Lusitania sinking. which
abe considers, impossible. conceded
every. desire Of the United States and
that the tentative. proposal, mat aterially
strengthens the assurances already
given in. the negotiations over the
sinking OF the steamer. Arabic. 1t
also is claimed that the tentative. PRO-
posal covers all the Fundamental issues
involved in the conduct Of submarine
warfare. ,r. 81, - a.s., ay
4 IT. is Il explained that a direct. dis.
ayowal was given for the sinking of
the Arabic. because. that act was An
ytolation Of the instructions given the
commanders Of submarines, In the
oaae.of the Lusitania. i1oweysr, ;. the
commander acted In accerdapee with
orders. The general INSTRUCTIONS I. not
20 ssinh liners witho vt I. wasuing were
Sivsn. 1t was disclosed tonisAa. by hiuhi
authority on the day after. the, Lusi-
tania went down.: It .wasi said THAI,
Germany withheld announcement .aol
the fact for stratesical navalsreasonss, n
y. The position Of Berlin officials IA,
said TO b that the act OF, the com.
,nander OF a. submarine can be i.sdis-,
avowed should he violate, :. disregard
or have failed to receive instructions,
but that q government dan mot dis.
ayow an act which was committed. in
accordance iwith.Ats snstrhcdons and
for which 1t is responsible. ~
4 In the latest proposal there is no
attempt TO deny responsibility for the,
sinking OF the Lusitania. hut Germany
sssumes iiapihty for American lives
iost offers reparation BY the payment
Of Indemnity and assures the United
States that the killing Of Americans
was without intent. The destruction
Of the liner was act of reprisai for
the British blockade under the orders
in council. according to the German
view. and reprisais. should, not be ap.
Piled to neutrals. The tentative COM
muntcation also states /. that the
method Of conducting submarine war.
fare In the North sea has been modi-
aed because Of friendship for the
United States and because American
lives had been lost. IN, IN. ~,
4. In this last connection, It was said
tonight. 1t was possible that some
reference might be made in the pref
ace Of the communication, should It
be transmitted formally to the United
States, to the correspondence. in the
Arabic case. In a note to Secretary
Lansing on September 2. Count Won
Bernstorff. tho German ambassador.
wrote that his instructions concern
ing our answer to your last Lusitania-
note contain the following passage:
Liners will not be sunk by our sub.
marines without warning and with
out safety Of the .Iivestof noncons-
ibatants. provided that tho. liners do
not try to- escape OF offer resistance"
instructions have not yet
been made formal in, connection with
the Lpsitapiav, case directly AT, the
time. Of. the creceipt,o Of tthei Scomsnuni-
cation Secretary lansing said that, #
appeared to be- a. "recognition Of, the