New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-08
Discusses Case with COun-
sellor Lansing of State
Department.
FLAG USED AS BLIND
MIGHT BE RESENTED
Use of Submarines Said TO Marx
New Era in Customs Gov
erning Search.

White House to-day between the Presi-
dent and Counsellor Robert Lansing OF
the State Department. Secretary OF
State BRYAN was in Washington, but as
he had been in Indiana during the lat
.cr half of last week and had not re-
NAMED in close touch with the AFFAIRS
of the State Department, Mr.. Lansing
who has been Acting Secretary SINCE
the issuance Of the German war zone
proclamation, was called Tor the con-
sultation.
The question which is disturbing the
administration is the extent 10 Whlch
the American flag has been used by
British merchantmen for protective
purposes. The suggestion that inc
United States will protest against the
use of the flag yesterday by the Lusi-
tania is not regarded seriously, but the
fact that Great Britain may be making
a practice of using the Stars ana
Stripes as a blind to German sub
marines and aircraft Is likely TO pc
made the occasion for an inquiry, foi
lowed by representations TO the BRUSH
government that such acts are caicu-
lated TO work a hardship against
American merchant vessels IN the pro
claimed zones.
Submarines Mark New Era.
There is nothing in the German dec
Iaration or in the explanatory memo
randum furnished 10 this government
80 supplement thereto which lndl-
Gates that Germany will not take sum-
mary action against a vessel which she
NAV suspect of flying neutral nag
for purposes of deception. IL was
pointed out by high authority to-day
that the use Of submarines marks
new era i'm the international custom
governing the search or seizure OF yes
sells in time of war, just as IT marks
new era in sea warfare itself.
The submarine is unable to send q
boarding party 10 ascertain the actual
facts regarding the claim to nation
ality which the ensign sets forth. II
will. therefore, be necessary when a
German submarine stops a suspicious
craft for the latter TO lower away and
send aboard the submarine her proofs
of identity. Should this course be m
yariably followed it will materially
simplify the problem which the German
declaration sets for neutral mariners.
No briefly considered nor impulsiye
action is expected from the admins
, tration authorities, but at the same
, time there is cognizance of the FAC,
, that the use Of the American flag by
, merchant vessels of the belligeren'
, forces with intent to deceive will not
81 be popular publicly in the unltec
p States, and the administration rs anX
s ious TO arrive as quickly as possible a
a definite understanding with Grea
Britain and the other belligerent pow
, ers among the Allies as to the extern
/, to which the practice will be pursued.
Administration May Speak.
= Precedents to the contrary notwith
y standing, il is felt in Washington tina
h if the German threats coupled with tn
n British practice become menace L
( American commerce the American gov
I eminent will have to speak, and II Il
n the form of this utterance which is CIV
ing the administration concern.
{ Following his consultation with thu
o President, Counsellor Lansing told Tit
T. Tribune correspondent that the subjec
= matter of the interchange Of views
could not be discussed and also tina
, there would be no statement from the
K White House or the State Department
r for the present.
Senator Stone. of Missouri, chairman
Of the Senate Committee on Forelgr
Il ]
" that in the event Of persistent use o
. the American flag for protective pur
!, poses by the British merchant marin
y certain representations would be mad
= to Great Britain, taking possibly tn
!, form of protest. in which II would b
Il set forth that American commerce wa
, put in jeopardy by this practice, an
u suggesting TO Great Britain that dc
spite precedents TO the contrary tn
United States could not look with in
difference upon abuses of the rightfu
use Of the flag.
y Senator Stone Cautious.
Senator Stone declined to express
definite opinion regarding the probler
presented by the impossibility of sub
marines exercising the right of scare
7 as practised by recognized interns
tional law. He said that a submarine
being unable 20 board a neutral vesse
for the purpose Of examining he
papers, verifying her nationality an
! inspecting her manifest to satisfy tn
commander as 20 the presence of con
a.. traband OF war, might demand that tn
supposed neutral lower away and sen
= aboard the submarine proofs OF her eN
a act status. There is no precedent 70
this method of procedure, according {
Senator Stone, but at the same tim
j. there is no precedent, in war, for tn
}. submarine itself, and some of the con
ventions OF other days must be mad
over 10 suit modern conditions.
d At the German Embassy Counsello
e Haniel Won Haimhausen expressed tn
/. opinion that the action OF the Lusita
, MIA in displaying American colors as
l blind 10 submarines Of the German
! navy was quite in line with the allega
. tions contained in the German proc
l. lamRtion of February 10 the effec
that the British Admiralty had issue,
u secret instructions 10 merchant Graf
o 20 make use of fictitious flags 10 pro
70 tect themselves against the sudden at
0 tack Of submarines or other German
: warships.
e German diplomats in Washington in
e sist that the menace 20 neutral com
: merce threatened in the recent German
r proclamation has been greatly over
q estimated. Quite along the line wit
the suggestions embodied in Senate
Stones views OF the case, il is sal
that there will be no torpedoing o
: neutral vessels on suspicion, and tina
the warning contained in the German
I declaration does not mean that prope
Investigations will not be made by sub
= marine commanders. II is therefor
accepted that the intention OF the Ger
man warning as il affects neutral YES
sells was to indicate that floating mine
would again be placed in waters con
tiguous TO the British and Frenc
coasts.
Flag Said TO BE No Protection.
II Is pointed out by Germans tina
the use of the American flag woul
have protected the Lusitania not at 81
against torpedo attack, for her identit
could not be concealed By the Stars an,
] Fnu,-f funnel weasel