New Britain herald., 1916-01-28
MERCHANT SHIPS SHOULD NOT CARRY ARMAMENT, DECLARES UNITED STATl Asks All European Belligerents to Make Cd eral Agreement to Square Their Subma-
 rine Warfare Methods WITH PRINCIPLES OF HUMANITY
 AND INTERNATIONAL Id

Subscribe to Such Principles Ar
 Merchantmen Will Be Denied
 try to American Ports Except U
 Conditions Which Apply to
 ships.
 Washington, Jan. 28-The Un States in asking all the Eurod belligerents to make general ag ment to square their submarine fare with the priciples of huma and international law, has taken position that under changed co tions of naval warfare, merc ships should carry no armament " ever.
 All the powers have been not that unless they subscribe to principles armed merchantmen be denied entry to American ps except under the conditions VI apply to warships.
 Proposal in Note.
 Sasch a proposal now in the hd of the belligerent governments been transmitted in a note w1j while not in actual language, is \ stantially as follows: It is assul that all of the governments dressed are equally desirioas of \ rtecting their own subjects and zens who are non- combatants fl the hazards of submarine warfa|
 Realizing the appalling loss life of non-combatants which res from the destruction of a mercH vessel without removing passend and crews to places of safety, wI | is held to be violative of the pl 1 ciples of humanity and of inteI i tional law which should govern maritime warfare. the United Sts at the same time does not feel a beLigerent should be deprived the right to use submarines in V of the usefulness which they have veloped since the outbreak of present war.
 Only Trifiing Change.
 That a formula may be fol completely within the rules of ternational law and of humal which will require in it's adoption C a trif1ing change in the pract which have obtained in the past before the war. which formula WIG be just and fair to all belligerents is proposed that:
 Text of Proposal.
 First-A non-com blatant has right to traverse the high seas i merchant ship entitled to fly a ligerent flag and rely upon the r of international law and the D ciples of humanity if the vessel approached by bellegerent vessel.
 Second-A merchant vessel of nationality should not be subject attack until the belligerent warl has warned her to stop.
 Third-Any belligerent owned T chant vessel should promptly c any order from belligerent war to stop.
 Fourth-No such merchant ve should be fired upon unless she { to flee or to resist by force and ( in, such case any attack upon her the warship must stop as soon as flight or resistance ceases.
 Fifth-Only in case it should impossible for military reasons the warship to supply a prize cl Or to convoy the merchant ship 1 rort will she be justified in sink such merchantmen, and in that c passengers and crew must be moved to place of safety.
 Appreciative of Obstacles.
 The state department is fully app ciative of the obstacles which adoption of these rules would pli in the way of the operations of submarines because of their str turaI weakness. Before the pres war maritime warfare on the h seas always has been conducted hattleships or cruisers carrying he guns It is true that merchantn were permitted to carry defens but these were light e pared with the warships and did change their nature as merch vessels. This was based on the perior defensive strength of the W ships and the limitation upon u armaments was for the purpose limiting their power of resistance contact with pirates and privateer'
 The introduction of the submar into naval warfare has changed Gf this. This craft is almost with powers of defense beyond the abi to submerge to escape an enemy. gun of light calibre on merch ship successfully could defend against a submarine. There are n no more pirates. and the practice has been abandoned
 IroDfinuod On Tenth l'aue.1