New-York tribune., 1916-02-16
BERLIN ADMITS
IT'S LIABILITY
Continued from pnre l

seas. Consequently it is admitted thai
should the Allies decline TO adopt the
American suggestion 20 disarm mer-
chantmen. founded primarily upon q
desire 70 save the lives OF innocent
ncn-combatents. this government can
not announce its approval Of the con
tentions Of the Teutonic powers 10 tor
pedo without warning after February
p all armed vessels, although various
high officials are convinced that the pO-
sitiOn OF Germany and Austria is justl-
ned
In response 10 inquiries II was said
tonight by high Teutonic authority
that the German and Austrian govern
ments would under no cons liberation
disregard the assurances which have
been given 10 the United States. In
regard to the conduct OF submarine
warfare attention was called partIcu-
lar.y 20 the fact that the German gov
eminent had assured the United States
that liners would not be attacked with
out being warned. These assurances,
10 was said. had not been and would
rot be repudiated. and for that reason,
liners in service between the United
States and Western Europe would not
be attacked without warning, even II
they have defensive armament aboard.
Ieutonic officials were inclined 20
believe that such an issue would nOt
arise as Great Britain has agreed that
its ships entering American waters
shall not be armed. In both diplo-
matte and official circles doubt even
was expressed that the new policy
would in the s!iehtesv way afnt con
ditions in the Atlantic, althou1 il was
q. 81, 81
ernment persist IN arming it's mer-
chantmeu difficulty might arise in the
Mediterranean.
Recalls Threat TO Allies.
1t is plain that only few weeks ago
the State Department was seriously
contemplating an order legalizing ex-
actly what Germany now purposes to
90. IL was hoped that this might be
avoided by obtaining the consent OF
the Allies 20 "a disarmament modus vi
vendi, but in proposing this Secretary
Lansing held threat over the Allies
that the United States might take the
Law into its own hands and modify it
in favor Of their enemies if they did
not agree 10 the proposals.
The threat has been Withdrawn. Cir
cumstances unforeseen at the time
have convinced President Wilson of
the unwisdom Of his course.
The hrs, Of these circumstances,
logically, II not chronologically, was
the German notice Of new and ter
rible submarine campaign. The notice
was the direct outgrowth Of Secre-
tary Lansing's proposals TO the Allies,
and was expected sooner or later Ger
many, however, was impatient. Instead
OF waiting until the Lusitania case
was settled and the Entente powers
had definitely rejected the modus vi
vendi, she tried 20 force the Presi-
dents hand and 20 collect in advance
the price of the Lusitania victory.
President Wilson Low perceiyes the
danger inherent IN such a situation. |.
has two aspects, one political and one
international. In its international as
pect it threatens seriously the bond OF
friendship binding the United States
20 the Entente; in its political aspect
IL forfeits the Lusitania victory and
signals the collapse Of the Presidents
diplomatic policy, inviting criticism
which the President would find hard 10
answer.
"Unless Congress intervenes"- and
there remains that secret hope the
United States will abide by interna-
tional law and will assert the right Of
merchantmen 20 arm for defence IL
is probable that no answer will be
made to Germany's proclamation. but
that the German government will be
notified informally that this govern
ments position has not altered.
II. therefore. Germany sinks an
armed merchantmen with loss of Amer
lean life. the question will have it's
first test. The offensive or defensive
character Of armament. the State De-
partment holds, Is one of fact.
The size of the guns will be taken
into consideration. In the past this
government has assumed that guns up
TO six inches in bore might be used.
II is now thought that this may have
TO be reduced 10 two inches, or per-
haps one inch, depending on the e.fec
tive range. Another consideration will
be the position IN which the guns are
mounted. whether az the bow or stern.
or broadside.
II the guns are actually used, or II