Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-28


TIE question with Secretary Lansing
should i be brought up during the
coming conference.
IN this connection confidential adj
vices from Berlin indicate that the
German government might be willing
to treat al peaceful merchantmen with
armament 80 light and 50 placed tina,
it could not possibly be used often
Sively
Agreeable Armament:
For instance. i was intiuated that
Germany might, should the United
States insist upon il, agree 70 grant
immunity % vessels armed with sin
gle nrA-pnunder placed on the stern
and % arranged that such q gun could
swing not more than B or - degrees.
Tie ambassador also is understood
y have been Instructed 10 call the at
tent.on Of Secretary Lansing 10 the
fact that French ships are not armed,
that British ships entering American
ports are not armed. and that conse-
quertiy the Berlin government consid-
ers hat the chances OF difficulties
with The United States as a result Of
The neT policy are remote The atti-
tuda Of the state department probably
VIII not he mace known a. once Much
depends upon the contents Of the ap-
penulces 20 the German renora ndum,
which are claimed 70 contain copies OF
alleged Confidential instructions to
masters of British merchantmen re-
garding warfare on submarines. State
Id +aI
ing the arrival Of these appendices with
much interest. ard it has been added
that they may have an important
bearing upon the attitude of this gov
eminent toward the entire question.
The principal assurance given in
the Lusitania case reads as follows:
Liners Will not be sunk without
warning ~ our submarines and with
CIT safety Of tie lives OF non-combat-
arts. provided that the liners do not
TT 70 escape or offer resistance.'-1
German Contention
The contention of the Berlin govern
ment is represented as being tina, all
defensively armed British merchant
men are prepared and instructed not
only TO resist, but to attack Conse-
quently it IS argued the new policy to-
ward armed ships squares with inter-
national law. the German view being
that if the British merchant ships
have been instructed to violate and do
violate the law as interpreted by the
United States. Germany is justified in
taking measures in retaliation. II is
that the Austro- Hungary
embassy here has received .advices
similar to those senr from Berlin to
Count Won gerns,orfs
1t could not be learned tonight
whether Baron Erich Zwiedinek,
charge OF the embassy. would cali upon
Secretary Lansing and inform him Of
the position Of his government, which
differs slightly from that OF Germany
italian ships are armed, although those
leaving American ports 90 so under
pledge that they will not use their guns
when warned by a submarine. Ger
many, not being at war with Italy, has
no particular interest in Italian ships
American Position
The state department holds to the
position that an unarmed ship and a
ship armed for defensive purposes are
in identically the same class and must
be treated accordingly. Officials of the
department have indicated a willing
ness to discuss with the Central Eu-
ropean Powers the question Of what
may properly be considered defensive
armament and there have been intima-
tons that the government was consid-
ering revising its instructions to port
in this regard. \