Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-22
President Explains Foreign
Situation to Chairmen
Stone and Flood.
UNITED STATES FIRM
Nation to Hold Position That
Merchantmen Be Armed
for Defense.

Washington, Feb. 22-Last nights
conference between President Wilson,
Senator Stone and Representative
Flood, chairmen of the congressional
committees dealing with foreign af-
fairs, and Senator Kern, the demo-
cratic floor leader, was said authori-
tatively today to have been held in
order that the president might inform
the congressional leaders on the status
of the negotiations with Germany over
submarine warfare.
The president told the three leaders
that while the foreign situation was
grave it was not critical. 1t Is under
stood he said the United States would
chantmen have a right to arm for de-
fensive purposes.
Senator Stone will make a speech
this week replying to former Senator
Roots attack on the administration
before the republican state convention
in New York.
Washington, Feb 22-Discussion of
| foreign affairs on the floor of the SEN
ate by administration senators was
awaited with unusual interest today
following last nights White house con-
'ffefeHh1ee-between President Wilson,
| Chairmen Stone and Flood of the SEN
ate and house foreign affairs commit
tees, and Majority Leader Kern Of the
senate.
The conference was held at the in
stance of Senator Stone, who is to ad-
dress the senate later on in the week
on the admittedly grave situation re-
sulting from the announced intention
! of the central powers to sink, after
Feb. 90, all armed merchant ships of
| the enemy.
Officials Are Silent.
| While all of the participants in the
meeting declined to talk, it was under
stood that it had to do with Senator
Stones speech, In which he is to dis
cuss from the administration view
point the recent negotiations over sub
marine warfare. The administration
| leaders object particularly to reports
that the United States changed its po-
sition toward the arming of merchant
men for defensive purposes when the
Lusitania case apparently was virtu-
ally settled.
Following the conference, Senator
Stone talked with Secretary Lansing,
who. it was said, furnished the sena-
tor with information to be used in his
speech.
Lusitania Assurances Hold Good.
Confidential advices from Berlin to-
/ day indicate that Germany soon will
inform the United States that her
previous assurances that unresisting
liners will not be attacked without
warning, hold good for future SUBJ
marine operations. provided. however,
that such liners do not carry arma-
ment.
The German government will con-
tend, the advices state, that what now
is characterized as defensive arma-
ment, really is offensive armament
when submarines are concerned, and
will propose discussion with the Uni
ted States of what defensive armament
properly may be.
AS none of the British and French
liners now clearing from American
ports carry any guns whatever, such
assurances from Germany will be in
the nature of reassurances for the
safety of neutrals they carry, even IN
der the terms of the new submarine
campaign.
Would End Negotiations!
There were intimations from offic-
ial quarters today that the United
States would not permit the negotia-
lions over the general subject of arm
ed ships to be drawn out Indefinitely
It is believed, however, that Ger
many informing the United States that
the past assurances still apply to I'M
armed liners, but adhering to It's in
tention to sink without warning lin
ers that are armed rather than place
their submarines and crews in what
the Berlin government considers need
less danger. and asking the United
States what defensive armament il
considers justified under international
law, that diplomatic negotiations may
be somewhat extended.