The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-10-31

, cept on one occasion, in September
last which formed the basis OF tn,
complaint referred to in your telegram
| am satisfied no attempt has beer
made to order anything from the
United States territory"
Would Hold U. S. Liable.
series of communications passed
between the British embassy and the
state department on defensive arma
ment OF merchantmen and the right OF
belligerent merchant ships to leave
neutral ports prepared to arm at sea
The British embassy said with refer.
ence to the fitting out of belligerent
ships in American territory that the
British government would hold the
United States responsible for any
damages to British trade or ship
ping, or injury to British interests
generally, which may be caused by
such vessels having been equipped at
or departing from United States
ports"
The ruling of the state department
that it was permissible for merchant
vessels to arm for defensive purposes
drew forth from the British embassy
on instructions from the foreign Of
nee giving "the fullest assurances that
British merchant vessels will never
be used for purposes of attack, nor
that they are merely traders armed
only for defense, that they will never
fire unless first fired upon and that
they will never, under any circum-
stances, attack any vessel"
Wanted No Resistance.
The German government in a mem |
orandum transmitted by Ambassador
Gerard took exception to the view
that merchant vessels were permitted
to defend themselves against a war
vessel and argued it was question
whether or not armed merchant ships
should be admitted into neutral ports
at ALL" the extent of armament being
held as affording mo guaranty that
ships armed for defensive purposes
only will not be used for offensive
purposes under certain circumstance
es." Mr.. Lansing's answer was that
the United States held that to permit
vessels of small armament to enjoy
the hospitality of American ports as
merchant vessels was not violation
If neutrality.
Nevertheless" the American reply
ldds, 1.-The government of the United
States is not unmindful of the !act
hat the circumstances of a particular
'ase may be such as to cause en-
'arrassment and possible controversy
is to the character of an armed
rivate vessel visiting its ports. Rec {
gnizing, therefore, the desirabi'ity {
4 avoiding a ground of complaint, [
his government as soon as a case {
rose, while frankly admitting the 1
light of a merchant vessel TO carry !
defensive armament, expressed its [
isapprobation OF a practice which I
ompelled it to pass upon . vessels I
ltended use, which opinion if proven ''
to be erroneous might :
Dnstitute a ground for a charge of a
nneutral contents. C
"As result of these representa- r
ons no merchant vessels with ar II
ament have visited the ports of the j
nited States since Sept. 10. In fact, Il
ON the beginning of the European j.
ar but two armed private vessels ST
ave entered or cleared from ports of h
is country and as to these vessels, N
cir character as merchant vessels
as conClusively established" 81
Censorship.
The efforts OF the state department
obtain Improvements in the cen We
rship of commercial cablegrams al
Institutes a lengthy correspondence ne