GERMANY AND UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 5

GERMANY AND UNITED STATES

AN AGREEMENT ASSURED li.r Telegraph—Press Assocfation—Ccgyrisrht ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, February 17. Count Bornstorif, German Ambassador in the United States, lias informed Berlin that tlio United States lias dropped tlio points not acceptable' to Germany, and that agreement is assured. LINERS TO BE IMMUNE MUST NOT ATTACK SUBMARINES Washington, February 17. Germany has informed the United States that if passengers on liners leaving American ports with defensive armament are to bo immune from submarine attack, as Germany promised through Count Bernstorff, Germany expects a definite assurance that the liners will not attack submarines. DEFINITE DECLARATION DEMANDED BY UNITED STATES (Rec. February 18, 5.25 p.m.) New York, February 17. It is understood that America is dissatisfied with Count BenistorfE's assurance that Germany -will not torpedo liners without warning, and wants a definite declaration from Berlin. Mr. Lansing, Secretary of State, has declared that a settlement of the Lnsitania incident is impossible •until the armed merchantmen question is settled. TEUTONS OUTMATCHED POSITION MORE DIFFICULT (Rec. February 18, 10.15 p.m.) London, February 17. The "Daily Chronicle's" New York correspondent states that Count Bernstorff has been outmatched by President /\V ilson, who now announces that lie will not accept the Lusitania- settlement until he is assured that the Teutons' programme .of assassination of noti-bolligerent merchantmen without warning will not nullify the promises made after the sinking of the Arabic. Apparently, Mr. Lansing's announcements after a Cabinet meeting, indicating that the Administration would r.cept the new policy, is repudiated by President Wilson, who holds: Firstly, rcspect of neutral rights; secondly, safety of American citizens; thirdly, strict regard for international law. Instead of the friction being almost entirely removed, the President regards tile position as becoming more difficult. Mr. Lansing told Count Bernstorff that the latest proposals were acceptable as far as the Lusitauia outrage was concerned, but he demanded assurances that Germany would not carry the sinking of armed merchantmen to the extent of sinking passenger-carry-ing liners even if armed for defence. SUBMARINE PIRACY OPPOSED BY THE SOCIALISTS (Rec. February IS, 5.25 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 17. The Socialists in the. Prussian Diet have disapproved the Government's submarine campaign against merchantmen.