Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-02
ENTIRE armament
QUESTION MAY Be
REOPENED,R REPORT
Lansing Indicates Government
May Discuss With Powers
What Constitutes
Defense.
CONGRESS UNDER CONTROL
Administration Leaders Have
the Situation Well In Hand
Again = Wait Reply
From Berlin.
CONGRESS UNDER CONTROL

Washington. Feb. 2S.-Mith the APP
parent quoting down of the situation
in congress the supreme crisis shifts
back to the negotiations between Sec
rotary Lansing and Count Won Bern
Storff.
Mr.. Lansing said today there was no
intention of transferring the negotia-
tons to Berlin to be conducted be-
tween Ambassador Gerard and the Ber-
lin foreign office, as was intimated in
dispatches published abroad and re-
lterated that the state department had
heard nothing more from Germany on
its request for a declaration that the
submarine campaign would not be con-
Quoted in violation of previous as
surances for the safety of Americans
travelling on unresisting liners.
The situation in congress apparently
is being held in check by the admin
istration leaders. while President Will
son remains firm in his determination
to insist on the rights of Americans to
travel on ships armed for defense only.
From German sources comes sugges-
tlonS that the Teutonic governments
We're inspired to issue their new notices
by the American circular note to the
allied powers proposing disarmament
of merchant ships II the German be-
lief is that the allies will not accept the
American suggestion.
Allies May Vet Yield.
From British sources come the posi-
tive statement that the British govern
ment at least, has not rejected the
American suggestion, but is consulting
her allies.
The issue is complicated by the at
titude of the Italian government and
the presence at New York of three
armed Italian merchantmen.
Secretary Lansing today
that one of the entente allies had re-
FLIED to his suggestion for the dis
armament of merchant ships. He de
clined to give the nature of the reply
or to tell from which government it
came, saying he probably would make
all the replies public when they were
received.
The state department had expected q
Joint reply from all the allies and re-
ceipt from only one was Il surprise to
officials.
Secretary Lansing made it clear he
| did not consider there was any differ
ence of opinion between any of the
governments involved in the submarine
negotiations regarding the principle IN
volved.
May Discuss Armament.
The department considers that the
| German and Austrian governments in
their memorandum clearly inferred
that their intended action was a de
partlre from the recognized principles
of international law which they deertcd
necessary because Of changed ccndi-
tons.
Secretary Lansing aid he was UNI
able to announce at this time whether
the United States would enter into a
discussion of what might properly be
considered defensive armament. He in
Dictated, however, that such a discus
sion could properly be entered into.
Although Secretary Lansing declined
to tell the name of the replying powca
it Was learned that it was Italy AMI
that the reply was a~rgunlentatiN@
rather tnan conclusive. 1t WAS pointed
cut that Italian liners give pledges not
to use their except for de
Tense when clearing from American
ports.