The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-22
'LUSITANIA CASE MAY
END NEXT WEEK
Berlin's Instructions In Con-
troversy on Way to U. s.,
Washington Hears.
PLAN FINAL CONFERENCE

WLsHiNoroN, Jan. 2I.-Secretary
Lansing and Count Won BernstorH are
expected to meet early next week Tor
another N perhaps final conference
controversy.
Unofncial advices reached Washing
ton to-day TO the effect that the Berlin
Foreign Off,ce has sent tho Ambassador
a set OF instructions. enabling him to
proceed with the negotiations. Up TO a
late hour the German Embassy had not
been officially advised hat the COM
munication had started.
Whether the conference next week IL
10 end in "A Anal adjustment or whether
further exchanges will be necessary be-
tween the embassy and Berlin will de-
pend entirely on the nature OF the In
struc;ions now On the way.
| II. Is ID hoped In German Embassy
quarters, Count Won Bernstorff has been
given a certain latitude Il y confidently
predicted that a formal settlement will
he reached. II on the contrary the For
eign ONCE has restricted the Ambassa-
dor as to the exact language to Do used
Il is expected that further negotiations
will be necessary.
, AZ the situation now stands the Ques-
ton OF language is all important. Count
Won Bernstorh has assured the Secretary
Of state OF dermany's entire willing
ness TO make rea sonable monetary rep
aration for the American liyce lost when
the Lusitania was sunk.
One assurance Given.
Rcparatlon. dissvowal OF the attack
and assurances against n repetition OF
the act were the three stipuiations upon
which the United States has insisted.
The assurances for the future already
have been given.
Ii has been on the question OF die-
aNowing the attack MI the Lusitania that
the II, Rotiations ave faltered der
man! ~oontending that the attack was
JUSTIFIED AZ a rcprisal against Great
Britain and that a disa in the
face OF express Instructions To the sub
marine commander to attack the vessel
would be absurd.
At the last conference between the
Secretary and Count Won Berlstorn
however. the TWO had reached a point
"here II was hoped that an expression
by Germany would he possible, which
while technically . ~disavowal would no,
appear too much OF a one in the eyes o,
the German people.
Persons In the confidence OF the Ger.
man Embassy say that but for the de.
sire or the American Government "a
make public the agreement az soon as |,
was reached a settlement could hay.
been made long ago. with Germany Coins
practically the entire length demanded
10y the United States.
m" form OF disaNowal tentatively
agreed oil at the last conference was
that Germany should admit that the az.
tack on the Lusi,ania was illegal with
respect 10 the customary rules of inter.
national law. but was in a measure tus,i.
fed by Illegal practices resor,ed TO by
Great Britain in her policy of starving
out Germany. This in substance was
the proposition referred by the Am.
bassaIor to his Government for approva,
and to which the Instructions now on the
way relate.
In diplomatic quarters there il a dis.
position to believe that the instructions
To Count Won Rernstorff VIII be favorable
IN view OF the fact that the G-rmaf
Foreign ONCE has waited hcfoIe send
ing them Until the adjournment Of In.
Reicrstag This is taken 80 mean tina
the German Government did not wish Il
stir up debate IN that hodi 10y agrseinr
to any settlement which nigh, he seize,
upon by members as ;n,olv!ng too grea,
a surrender.
Anticipating An early settlement al
the controversy insurance companio,
throughout the United States who hav,
paid out money on policies held oil tn.
lives Of the American victims OF the dis
aster have Injected n novel question into
the situation.
On the ground tina the claim for in
dsmnity aRainst Germany IL that OF on,
state against another and does not rep
resent technically a collection of lndl
Nidual claims these companies have an