Arizona republican., 1916-04-27
PRACTICALLY ENDS
 SUBMARINE WAR
Attacking Vessel Must Know That Merchant man is Not Only Armed But Is Under Orders to Act On Offensive
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, April 26.-An off cial declaration of the attitude of the United States toward armed merchant ships, made public today by Secretary Lansing, reiterates and explains the purpose of the American government to recognize the right of peaceful yes sels to carry arms for defense, and at the same time, while referring only to warships generally, clearly sets forth the conditions under which the United States holds that submarines may at tack merchant craft.
 The declaration was issued in the form of a memorandum, prepared by Lansing at President Wilson's dictation during the secretarys brief vacation last month. Copies of it were given to each of the embassies and legations here, and while no official explanation was forthcoming as to the purpose of publishing the memorandum at this time, 1t is assumed that at least the substance of it will reach the Berlin foreign office before a reply is dis patched to the American demand for abandonment of Germany's present methods of submarine warfare. This would serve to answer in advance cer- tain questions which cable dispatches have indicated the German govern ment was inclined to ask. In connection with the memorandum 1t was stated that the state department now was awaiting a response from Great Britain to a request for copies of orders to armed British merchant vessels. Germany has charged that these ships were instructed to act az gressively against submarines and has submitted photographic copies of or ders taken some time ago from cap tured craft This evidence is not con sidered conclusive here, however. as the United States will base it's position on orders now in effect.
 During the long drawn out negotia- tions following the sinking of the Lusi- tania. Secretary Lansing has stated in general terms nearly all of the postu- lates which he lays down in today's declaration. It was determined, how ever, to gather these into one compact statement and to elaborate the state departments views beyond any possi- bility of misunderstanding or doubt.
 An effort Is made to differentiat, between an armed ship in a neutral DOT and the same vessel on the high seas In the first case it is shown that tn, United States government is concerned solely in protecting itself against an, charges that might be made by one O the belligerents that it had allowe, American ports to be used as bas for hostile operations by it's enemy Mir. Lansing insists that the neutra government is to be the sole judge O the status of armed merchant ships i it's ports in the absence of any settle rule of international law. A commis sion, or orders from a belligerent gov ernment to conduct aggressive opera tions under penalty of punishment fo failure to do so, would stamp the yes sel as a warship.
 In the absence of such evidence tn neutral government may lay down il own rules of evidence and determin the character of the ship and more over. these rules, unlike principles international law, may be changed ( modified during the progress of tn war.
 Commenting on this portion of tt memorandum, a high official of u state department admitted that the rt fusal of the American port authoriti, to clear a vessel might be taken as
 notice to the public that she was r,
 garded as not entitled to immunity f her passengers.
 The section relating to armed me chant vessels on the high seas di
 closes in positive terms the Americi
 view that there must be no attac