The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-28
BERLIN MAY BE
SHIFTING POSITION
AS to Armed Ships and Con-
gress Will Wait-Senator
Gore Makes Statement

merchant ships, In no event, however
according TO authoritative informatio
Saturday night, will the United State
be party TO such negotiations unless
is assured that the lives OF Americal
citizens aboard ships armed for defensy
, purposes will not be endangered during
the course of the discussion.
Only two days remain before German
be instructed to treat armed merchant
ships as war vessels. There was no in
dication Saturday that issuance OF the
order, announced in formal notifications
from the central powers for the goth
would be postponed, although it was
admitted that postponement would not
come as surprise.
Leaders in both houses of Congress
who for several days have agitated pass
age of resolution warning Americans
not 10 travel on armed ships, seemed CON
WINGED Saturday night that no such meas
ure could be put through at present.
Senator Gore, who has such resolution
Ipending issued statement saying that,
while he still favored a warning, he be-
lieyed the objects sought by his reso-
luton already had been accomplished
through public discussion. Representa-
tive McLemore, whose warning resolu
tion in the House has been kept from
coming up by administration leaders
said he was content TO wait until the
president and Secretary Lansing had OPP
portunity TO try out their policy Of as
sorting determinedly the right of travel
on ships bearing arms.
Administration officials still were
awaiting the receipt of the appendices
to the latest German memorandum on
the subject which contain what is al
legged to be q copy OF confidential instrue-
tions given TO British sea captains. II
this document contains what the German
government claims, it ia said, inquiries
may be addressed TO Great Britain on the
subject.
The British government sometime ago
assured the United States that its mer-
chant ships would not operate offensive
ly. Germany in its memorandum gives
as one of the cardinal reasons for its
determination to sink armed merchant
ships of her enemies without warning
the fact that German submarines have
been fired upon repeatedly by merchant
men which apparently were engaged in
peaceful pursuits of commerce.
A high official Of the state department, |
questioned about this contention. ex
pressed the opinion that there might, in |
certain cases, be justification for one bel I
ligerent committing acts in retaliation |
for violations of international law com.
mitted by an enemy. 1t was made plain
that the department will not make any
decision in this connection until it has
had opportunity to inspect the appen-
iices to the German memorandum.
1t also was indicated at the state de-
oartment that Germany by recent acts
rad shown a disposition TO change her
original position in regard to the right
II merchant ships to carry defensive
Originally the Berlin govern
nent denied that il was legal for mer-
liant ships to arm at all. Now some
fficials at Washington consider that Ger
many appears willing to admit that
is legal if purely defensive. In
ther words it is believed that the Ger
nan government actually is attempting
o change the rules rather than the law.
Should the subject be opened up for
iscussion the state department may, it
fas said be willing 10 admit that there
hould be some regulation regarding the
lie and use of defensive armament sup
to the instructions TO port
authorities issued September Q. 1915.
hitch permits merchant ships TO clear
rom American ports, provided they are
o cary no more than two guns mounted
II, of not more than six -inch caliber.
S a matter of fact, no merchant ships
YER have come into American waters
18th the maximum of armament pro-
ded for. Indications that this question
ould be opened for discussion resulted
ON publication of confidential adviees
ON Berlin which forecast request
ON Germany to the United States TO
fine defensive armament.
State department officials were en-
latic in saying that while additional
mutations might be placed upon the de-
nsive armament that may be carried,
ch action could not be extended TO re-
lire the complete exclusion of arms
emit. That would be equivalent. it is
10, 10 ehange OF INTERNATIONAL lhWs
hich cannot be made during the course
hostilities except by general assent.
lere are strong intimations that the
tente allies will not consent to such
change.
The first formal reply to the Ameri-
n suggestion made weeks ago for the
sarming Of merchant ships came sat
day from Italy. II will not be made
bic until all the allies have respond
but il was learned that the document
Is not conclusive, but rather was argu-
intative.
While agitation on the subject IN Con
sss has subsidized for the time being the
position on the part OF leaders in the
Ivement for a congressional warning
med saturday night to be = waiting
Z. BY reccssing instead Of adiourning
, Senate reflected the determination
its leaders to prevent by parliament
! tactics any discussion 81 tie Gore
olution. senator Gore in his statement
racterized THE action a. rendering
icy Of 'watchful waiting unavoida-