Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-17
Assurance Regarding Warn
ing Before Attacking
Ships Withdrawn.
ONLY POINT IN
DISPUTE SETTLED
Agreement in Lusitania Case Reached
With Exception Of Insistence Of
United States That Merchantmen
Must Not Be Attacked Without
Warnins-Germany 70 Insist That
Armed Ships Must Not Attack Subs.

Lansing today accepted the Lusitania
agreement as acceptable to the Unit
ed States, insofar as it relates TO that
case but asked Count Won BernstorH,
the German ambassador. assurances
that Germany will not carry out its
policy Of sinking merchant ships with
out warning to liners, even If they
carry defensive armament. The ques-
mament is to be determined later in a
way not yet agreed upon. 1t Is sug-
gested that the United States may
propose that guns mounted on the
stern of ships and capable Of being
swung from Is to 80 degrees III either
direction might come within that class.
insists on Law Obssrvanees.
Secretary Lansing is understood to
have told the ambassador that while
Germany's position is recognized as
well founded, the United States must
insist that Germany conform all her
practices to International law, mas
much as the entente allies have de-
clined to make any changes.
The Lusitania agreement will be kept
by Mr.. Lansing and later will be pub
lished with assurances the United
States hopes to receive from Ger
fhany.
Meanwhile, It was said, the United
States would make efforts to have the
entente allies agree not to put guns OF
any kind on passenger carrying lin
ers.
Ambassador Won Bernsthorff, when
he returned to his embassy, sent a long
dispatch to Berlin. setting forth fully
the position OF the United States. a.
outlined to rim, ana which was SUB
stantial!y as stated In last nights new
dispatches.
Germany Changes View.
II. was stated that Germany. because
of its unusual position, can not and
will not accept the suggestion of the
United States, as 1t now stands, that
liners carrying arms shall he immune
from attack under previous assurances.
Germany Is prepared TO inform the
United States that if passenge- liners
leaving American ports with defensive
armament are to be immune from sub
marine attack, as Germany promised
last summer in the Arabic case the
Berlin government expects some as
surances that the liners will not at
tack the submarines.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, has an engagement to
confer with Secretary Lansing today
and he is expected to convey this view
In replying to the secretary's state
ment yesterday that 1t is desirable that
the German government In making Its
declaration In carrying out its new
campaign after Feb 49, it intended to
abide by the assurances Vt gave in the
Arabic case that liners would not be
attacked without warning, unless they
attempted to resist. Such assurances.
as 1t Is indicated Germany may now
ask. probably would apply only to
italian ships, as British passenger car
rylng liners have not been armed even
with the small guns allowed for de-
fensive purposes since the outbreak of
the war. -,
May Restrict Padio Messages. !.
To avoid any complications In the
proposed modification in the ceneor-
ship on wireless messages at Sayvillc,
Secretary Daniels today appointed a
board Of naval officers. headed by
Capt w. G. Bullard. chief OF the radio
service. to consider whether the re-
vision should permit the passage into
the United States Of radio messages
referring to naval vessels Of the coun-
tries at war.
Austria's Notice Received.
The Austrian notice OF the intention
to treat armed belligerent merchant
ships without warning, was received
today by the state department from
Ambassador Penfield. In Vienna. 1t Is
dated Feb. 10. and is in line with the
German declaration on the same sub
iect already published.