Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-17
BERLIN DEMANDS PLEDGE
OF NO ATTACK ON U.BOATS

Continued from Page One
mad been expected Secretary Lansing is
Understood TO have insisted however. that
thls Governments acclaimed policy in
ltspest TO the right OF merchantmen to
arm tor protection be carried out
In the event that the latest suggestions
are not accepted within week, IL was
preuicted that months Of diplomatic ex-
changes are inevitable"
Ambassador Bernstorff said he did not
expect to see Secretary Lansing again
netore next week. He indicated that he
must ask his own Government for fur
ther instructions.
WILL KEEP PLEDGES.
The Ambassador is understood to have
told the Secretary that Germany will
stand squarely by her pledges already
made regarding submarine warfare hui
thnt she could not waive any rights to
SINK armed merchantmen not OF the liner
class.
The position of the United States, IL Us
understood, is that Il requires n pledge
IN writing from Germany that liners
snail be Immune from unwarned attack.
even though armed. The Ambassador
TOOK the position that In order to give
such pledge 1t would be necessary for
the United States TO secure from the
under no circumstances would armed
liners use their guns except for defense.
lhe Ambassador pointed out that Brit
ish merchant vessels have attempted to
ram and sink submarines and that 40
long as the British regulations ms COM
piled by the Admiralty remain in opera
ton German submarines are in danger
If they try to exercise the right of stop
page and search on any vessel carrying n
gun.
The conference between the ambassador
and the secretary has brought the entire
submarine situation to a decidedly more
serious stage II Is known that Teutonic
representatives did not believe that Ger.
many can comply with the latest Amer.
can request, excepting with the single
condition that the United States secure
from the Allies positive pledges that their
merchant vessels no longer will resist sub
marines. Ambassador Won Bernstorff ex-
pected to communicate at once the latest
proposals to Berlin
LUSITANIA CASE UNSETTLED.
Meanwhile the United States will main.
tain n waiting attitude, and the Lusitania
case remains unsettled.
Officials expressed belief that the United
States will endeavor to obtain the pledges
desired by Germany from the Allies that
liners will not attempt to use their guns
except for defense. Prior to his conference
with Won Bcrnstorff. Secretary Lansing
had long talk with Sir Cecil Sprlng-R Rice.
British Ambassador. It is believed he
asked him Just what position Great Brit
ain would take on this question. Sir Cecil
is expected to communicate with his Gov
ernmcnt at once on the matter.
Ambassador Gerard. at Berlin. and Ann
bassdor Penneld, at Vienna, are forward
ing by mail the complete texts of the de-
crees by the Teutonic Governments to
treat armed merchantmen as auxiliary
cruisers. These texts will carry with
them all appendices which cite the justi-
fication for the change of policy. 1t was
admitted at the state Department that
these appendices will have most i'm
portant bearing on the entire situation.
The text of the Austrian decree an
nouncing that all armed ships will be
sunk without warning after February %,
was given out at the State Department
today. 1t Is almost identical with the
German decree.
The decree is based on the allegation
that British Admiralty orders, found on
captured ships. are Instructions to COM
manders melting them Illegally to attack
and attempt destruction of hostile war
vessels engaged in legitimate exercise of
the right of capture.
This, the decree brands as being In
direct contravention of the assurances
(given by EnglanD to the State Depart
ment at Washington