Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-26
Turbulent State of Congress
sional Affairs Become
Normal Again.
NOTE SENT BY AN ALLY
Lansing Receives Reply to
Circular to Entente
Is Kept Secret.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator
Lewis Of Illinois, democratic whip
of the senate, today notified Sem
atOr Stone that the supporters Of
the president were ready for the
Gore resolution to warn Amer.
leans against sailing on armed
merchantmen to come to a vote at
any time. "We are convinced that
there will be safe majority
against tne resolution" he said.
Washington, Feb. 26.-Secretary
Lansing announced today that one
Of the entente allies had replied
to his suggestion for the disarma.
ment Of merchant ships. He de-
clined to give the nature of the
reply or to tell from which gov.
eminent it came, saying he prob
ably would make all the replies
public when they were received.
Although Secretary Lansing de-
ciined to tell the name of the re.
plying power, it was learned that
it was Italy and that the reply was
argumentative rather than c0nclu-
sive. 1t was pointed out that ItaI.
ian liners gave pledges not to use
their armament, except for de-
Tense, when clearing from Ameri-
can ports.
Washington, Feb. 26.-The United
Ctafnc r I'D; kaI
today, may discuss the question of
what properly may be regarded as
armament on a merchant ship, if the
question is raised.
Confidential advices from Berlin
have forecast a proposal for such
discussion by Germany, which con-
tends that armament permitted under
international law as defensive had be-
come offensive with the advent of the
submarine.
Until the question is raised, Mr.. Lam
sing regards it as premature to an
nounce the position of the state de-
partment.
One Of the entente allies, to which
Secretary Lansing suggested disarma-
ment Of merchant ships, replied today,
but the nature of the reply or the
name of the government which made
it will not be disclosed until all the
allies have answered. The impression
prevailed that it was not Great Britain,
but probably was France or Italy.
With the apparent quieting of the
situation in congress, the submarine
crisis shifts to the negotiations be-
tween Secretary Lansing and Count
Won Bernstorff
Mr.. Lansing said today there was
no intention of transferring the nego-
tiatfons to Berlin to be conducted be-
tween Ambassador Gerard and the
Berlin foreign office, as was intimated
in dispatches published abroad.
On the situation as it now stands,
President Wilson is firm in his deter
mination to insist on the rights OF
Americans to travel on ships armed
for defense only.
Decree Inspired by Circular!
From German sources come sugges-
tions that the Teutonic governments
were inspired to issue their new notice
by the American circular note to the
allied powers, proposing disarmament
of merchants ships, and the German
belief is that the allies will not accept
the American suggestion. From Brit
ish sources comes the positive state
ment that the British government at
least has not rejected the American
suggestion but is consulting her allies
The issue is still kept alive. however
by the attitude of the Italian govern
ment and the presence at New York
of three armed merchantmen, the Giu-
seppe Verdi, San Gugielmo and Ma
poll, the last named having arrived to-
day.
Though technically an entirely sep
arate question from that of the right
of merchant ships TO carry defensive
armament, the Lusitania case remains
| in allegiance because the state depart
ment fears that the German pledges
to refrain from attacking liners with
out warning may not extend TO future
operations. Therefore the Departments
| has called on the German government
for information on that point and /!
now awaiting response.
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