Arizona republican., 1916-02-12
As Result of Unexpected h. tention of Germans and Austrians to Treat Armed Merchantmen as w ar ships After February 29

WASHINGTON Feb. 1l.-Diplo matic negotiations of various character soon will confront the United States as the result of the expected intention of the German and Austrian govern ments to treat armed merchantmen of the entente allies as war vesses after February 29.
 Apparently it is certain, if the tenn per of the allied governments can be judged by the feelings of their diplo- matic representatives here. that any attempt by the United States to change the present rule permitting the use of American ports by merchant ships armed for defensive purposes will be met by a strong protest Correspon- dence also is likely to follow if the United States assumes a position which coincides with that of Germany and Austria regarding the right of sub marines to sink armed ships without warning.
 On the other hand, the United States I.itself may take the initiative, should the entente allies impose a virtual boycott on American ports in the event of this government deciding that armed merchant ships entering American wa ters are ships of war. and therefore subject to internment.
 The definite attitude of the United States toward the stated intention of Germany and Austria will be deter mined after the formal texts of the notes which have been handed to Am bassador Gerard and Ambassador Pen field are received from Berlin and Vii enna. Once the texts are before off cials here, it is believed the position of this government quickly will be de- ] fined.
 ! Only IS days remain before Austrian and German submarine commanders will start to put their new instructions , into operation.
 | The view of at least some of the rep resentatives of the entente allies here ! is that any change made in the rule 1 bearing on submarine warfare during : the war would be an unneutral act. The governments are representing as not being prepared to admit there has been any change in the conditions of naval warfare which would warrant
 
 purposes being characterized as war ships.
 l In TeutOniC quarters, however, it is contended that merchant ships armed for defensive purposes are really armed for resistance and that merchant ships have no right to resist. Moreover, it is claimed by Germany that it is impossi- ble to adhere to the principle of warn ing merchant ships in accordance with the views of the United States, should they be armed; a single shell of small caliber being sufficient to sink any submarine which might attempt to warn such a vessel It is admitted submarines have right to stop every enemy armed merchantmen.
 American officials seem inclined tC the view that the contentious of the German and Austrian governments are we'll founded, and from several quar- ters today came the information that the United States might warn it's ma ltionals to remain off merchant ships that are armed. This, it was said ir German quarters, was precisely what the German and Austrian govern ments have been aiming to achieve.
 The possibility of the entente allie: putting into effect a practical boycott
 of American ports was widely dis cussed in official circles during tho
 day. It has been intimated that tho allies might see fit to permit only (
 sufficient number of their unarmeC
 ships to enter American ports to talk