The Washington times., 1916-04-04
BRITAIN REFUSES TO
GRANT j. 5. DEMAND
Will Not Release Germans
Taken off American Ship.
Question an Old One.
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a total OF seven Germans and Aus
trians, some passengers and others
members OF the crews. were taken or.
Again demands were made for their
release. and again they were complied
with. In these cases the French cruiser
Descartes was responsible.
Refuses to Comply.
In the case of the China. Great Britain
alone Is involved, and with characteris-
tic doggedness she has refused to com.
ply with the demand. which was sent to
London through Ambassador Page
Iearly six weeks ago.
Just what are the terms OF her refusal
is not known. as the State Department
has not yet made public the text of her
note. But coming on the heels OF the
refusal of the allies to satisfy the
United States on the question of mai
decidedly unpleasant effect.
The Cabinet, which met today to con.
slider foreign problems generally. had
the text of the China correspondence
and the mail seizure reply from the al
lies before It. What action, II any, was
decided upon In not known.
On the other hand the Cabinet faced
\ the fact that the submarine issue has
suddenly assumed proportions more
serious in their possibilities than any
i
On the one side stands the fact
| that. contrary to past assurances and
regardless OF the terms of the March
decree, Germany has launched upon
compaign OF submarine warfare
moro terrible in its scope than ever
before witnessed.
Unarmed Liner Immune.
The past assurances to the United
States were. even from the standpoint
80 h. t.,N.
| German submarines would henceforth
not attack unarmed merchantmen
without warning and opportunity for
the rescue of their passengers and
| crews. provided these vessels did not
attempt to resist or escape. The terms
of the March l warning to neutrals
was that on and after that date Ger
! many would attack all armed" enemy
liners without warning.
In the last week the United States
mas seen all these promises, and con-
ditions thrown to the winds, II evil
accepted as a basis for future action
by this Government. Merchant yes
sells armed and unarmed, enemy and
neutral, have met the same fate.
American lives and American rights,
II the evidence Is to be accepted, have
been brushed aside with impunlty.
helpless men, women, and children
are still figuring In the frightful trag-
SuiSS a. sea war tndt recognizes no
| law, human or divine.
In the midst OF this grim reminder OF
Germanys ruthless policy, there looms
up. another phase of the situation in
Volving Lnew the part that this coun.
try has got to take on the question OF
ornaments for defense on merchant
ships entering and clearing from Ameri.
can ports.
Mindful of the courSe which the Ger.
man submarines are taking. France has
| apparently determined to abandon heI
previous policy OF not arming he mer.
chantmen and has sent the Vulcaint
! into New York with three rapid-firt
guns mounted for defensive use against
submarines.
Great Britain. II is reported, will soor
revoke her agreement not to arm thos,
of her merchant ships which enter
American ports.
On this question. and purely from the
standpoint OF harbor regulations anc
neutrality obligations. the United States
| must soon restate her position.
| At the conclusion OF the Cabinet meet
ing today. II was learned that the Presi,
| dent and his advisers do not feel thai
they have sufficient evidence to act II
the Sussex case. and are still undeter.
| mined as to the course to be taken In
connection with the allies answer or
mail seizures and the British reply or
! the China case.