Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-17
Submarine Attacks, Without
Warning, on Merchant Yes
sells to Be Suspended by
Germany,
AMERICAN POINT OF
VIEW GAINS FAVOR
Great Britain Raises Question
as tC What First Note From
kaiSer'S Government ACtu-
ally Meant.

| washington, May is. - Without
word from Ambassador Gerard. ms to
the attitude of the German govern
ment towards the recent American
note, official Washington attached
much significance today to the inti-
nations in diplomatic quarters here
! friendly to Germany that the latter
country in its reply might offer to sus-
pend attacks without warning or
merchantships, while the United States
renewed its informal proposals. for
the unrestricted passage of foodstuffs
TO civilians In Germany.
II was pointed out by well informed
| diplomats that an offer of arbitra-
| tion or settlement by diplomacy of
the questions at issue, would be most
certainly made by Germany, with an
agreement to abandon submarine
warfare while the discussion was In
progress.
Officials Are Rcticent.
Officials have been reticent about
discussing arbitration. or with refer
ence to foodstuffs but it was indi-
Gated that the situation had pro-
gressed to the point where America
would not be likely to be satisfied
with any conditional acquieseence in
the American position. 1t was intl-
mated. however. that II Germany ac-
cepted the American point of view,
the natural tendency of the United
States of its own initiative. would be
strongly to press its contention ON the
right TO ship foodstuffs To Germany,
matter still under diplomatic dis
cussion.
There Is likelihood that some un-
1erstanding might be reached through
the medium of the American govern
ment whereby Germany could be defi-
nitely assured that no merchant ships
leaving the United states would be
armed. making IL possible for sub
marine commanders TO exercise the
right to visit and search with impu-
nifty.
England's Position Coniectural.
Whether Great Britain would con-
sent TO disarmament of merchant yes
sells carrying contraband Is Il matter
of conjecture.
There has long been some differ
ence of legal opinion as to whether
neutral goods could be shipped with
legal immunity aboard an armed or
even an unarmed merchantmen of
belligerent nationality.
That the question of permitting
Americans to travel on armed mer-
chanfmen may be shortly taken under
consideration is intimated in well in
formed quarters. On the other hand,
some of those believe that there viii
be little necessity for this, as Great
Britain has informally agreed not to
n t,lR hot
and American ports. What is regard
ed as one of the hopeful signs in the
general situation Is the confidence re-
Elected In official and diplomatic
quarters that Germany viii meet the
Tinted States at least half way and
certainly will suspend for the time be-
ing her submarine attacks without
warning during the diplomatic cor
respondence.
Submarine Warfare an Issue.
In this connection there has been
much comment here over the recent !
announcements from London that
Great Britain did not understand from
Germany's answer last March, that |
the principle of submarine warfare |
would be abandoned. It was noted 1
that the same understanding when the |
German and British replies were re-
ceived TO the American proposal for |
the abandonment by Germany of sub
marine warfare and the use of mines
in return for American supervision of |
the distribution OF foodstuffs If Eng
land agreed to their unrestricted pas
sage to Germany when consigned to
civilians,
What Germany said In her reply !
was this: The German government
would undertake not to use their sub (
marines to attack mercantile of any
flag except when necessary to enforce
the right of visit and search. Should
the enemy nationality of the vessel
or the presence Of contraband be as
certained submarine would proceed in
accordance with the general rules of
law.
Would Still Sink Merchantmen.
What England said after reading
the German reply was:
THE reply of the German govern
lnent 10 this note has been published
and II is not understood from the re-
ply that the German government is
prepared to abandon the practice of
sinking British merchant vessels by
Officials here studied the disparity
and came to the conclusion that Great
Britain meant in her answer TO indi-
cate that she wanted Germany not Ii
only to give up attacks on merchant
men of all nationalities, but that no
ships would be confiscated unless GER
tain of condemnation as legal prize
The United States and Great Britain
have in the past sanctioned the de-
itruction Of prize only In cases of mill
tary necessity and when passengers
ma crew We're removed to places of
safety. That a compromise might be
arranged whereby the declaration of
London's provision permitting the de-
'truction of beligerent ships CARRYING
'argoes more than half of which was
'ontraband, was a suggestion dis (
'ussed to some extent today. Il