Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-18
PRESIDENT WILSON'S DUTY.

IkESiDENT WILSON > DUTY.
The report from Washington that
Secretary of State Lansing has ac-
cepted the Lusitania agreement as
acceptable to the United States in 80
far as IL relates to that case is en-
couraging. But at the same time,
tho despatch states, Mr.. Lansing has
asked Count Won Bernstorf, the Ger
man Ambassador, for assurances
that Germany will not carry It's pol
icy Of sinking merchant ships with
out warning to passenger ships, even
if they carry defensive armament.
Why such hacking over the ques-
tion Of arming merchant and pas
senger vessels? Why should pas
senger vessels be allowed to carry
guns any more than freight vessels2
II makes no difference to this gov
ernment whether allied merchant
vessels are armed or not il Amer
leans are not on board. But it makes
a great difference if Americans arc
taken on board heavily armed ships
which pretend to be passenger ycs-
sells
The United States is trying to save
life by asking the powers to draw a
sharp line between merchant ships
and warships. The British govern
mont is secretly arming merchant
ships and instructing them to fight
the enomy's warships
The German government viii sink
armed merchant vessels after Feb
ruary 20. II is perfectly justified In
doing so, since armed merchant YES
sells arc nothing but warships in dis
guise.
No merchant vessel is justified By
the law OF nations in arming itself
for ofrense. It's safety lies in ohe
fact that it is not a warship. If IT
attacks an enemy ship OF refuses to
submit to visit and search. il forfcits
the right to exist. On the other
hand, il 1t is unarmed and il it sub
| mits to visit and search, no enemy
can lawfully sink it without provid-
Ing for the safety of the passengers
and crew.
Germany has notified tho United
States that it Will not sink unarmed
ships without providing for the
safety OF passengers and crew 1t
recognizes its liability in tho Lusi-
tania case. and thus meets every de-
mand of tho United States.
II the allies would disarm thcir
merchant vessels, the lives OF Amer
lean passengers on belliserent yes
sells would be safe.
Since Great Britain gives signs
that il will not disarm it's merchant
vessels, but, on the contrary, intends
to continue the practice Of trans
forming its merchantmen secretly
into war vessels, it is evident that
! Americans seek their own destruc-
ton when they travel on such ships.
Nor can the United States govern
ment enter a valid protest against
the destruction of armed merchant
men. even If American lives are lost.
While the United States is not
bound TO approve Of Germany's
! policy OF sinking armed merchant
men. it is bound to take cognizance
of armed vessels entering American
ports under tho guise OF merchant
men II was pointed out by the
delegates to the maritime conference
at London that q neutral power
might. easily drift into war if it ex-
I tended the courtesy Of its ports to
merchantmen that had been trans
formed into war vessels. If such
vessels are permitted TO 80 and come,
to load cargoes and carry passengers,
the neutral nation harboring them
would be committing an unneutral
act toward the other belligerent.
II is morally certain that Germany
| after March / viii protest to the
United States if any allied armed yes
sci is permitted to carry on COM
! mercc through an American port.
| Germany will hold that such vessels
are warships AS such they must be
required to depart or be interned
The United States, for the protec-
! tion of its citizens and for the preser-
walton of its neutrality, should make
sure that no vessel armed heavily
enough to carry on offensive warfare
shall carry on commerce through an
American port. The government
should shape its regulations so thai
the United States shall not become
party to the perfidious practice OF
transforming merchantmen into war
ships.