The Tomahawk., 1916-02-24
UNITED STATES DEMANDS As.
SURANCES UNDERSEA WAR;
FARE WILL NOT VIOLATE
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
lUSITANIA AGREEMENT is
NOT FORMALLY ACCEPTED
Teuton Notes Regarding Armed Ships
Not in Accord With Assurances
Given by Governments Over
Sinking of British Liner and
Italian Steamer Ancona.

washington, r oU. III AS OA1ICu
States in it's submarine controversy
with Germany will accept nothing
short of a full and complete agreement
covering all the points for which it
has commended as to assurances that
Teutonic undersea warfare in the fu-
ture will be conducted in accordance
with established principles Of inter
national law.
In announcing that fact Secretary
Lansing let it be known that the state
department considers Germany's dec
laration of it's intention to sink with
out warning, after Feb. 20, all armed
merchant ships of the Entente allies
to be inconsistent with assurances
given previously by the Berlin govern
ment.
Not Accepted Formally.
The tentative communication de-
signed to end the Lusitania case, still
in the possession of Secretary Lans-
ing, will not be accepted formally I'M
til such assurances regarding the fu-
ture are given, although the communi-
cation insofar as it relates to the Lusi-
tania itself is acceptable.
State department officials also con-
slider that the Austro-Hungarian men,
orandum regarding armed ships is not
in accord with assurances given by the
government in negotiations over the
sinking of the Italian steamship An
coma. Consequently final settlement OF
the Ancona case, once postponed be-
cause of doubt regarding the circum-
stances attending the sinking of the
British steamship Persia, probably will
be withheld until Austria gives assur-
ances similar to those now requested
from Germany.
Explains Americas Views.
The views of the United States were
explained in detail by Secretary Lans-
ing to Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador. The ambassador
was informed, it was indicated at the
state department, that the United
States desires the German declaration
regarding armed merchant ships to be
modified.
Later in the day the ambassador
sent long dispatch to his government
explaining the position and require
ments of the United States.
It was stated emphatically in Teu-
tonic diplomatic circles that the Ber-
lin foreign office will not modify its
declaration OF intention to sink armed
ships unless Great Britain gives assur-
ances of some kind that submarine
which warns British steamship,
armed ostensibly for defensive pur-
poses, will not be fred upon.
Armed for Defense.
In this connection, it was explained
at the state department that the Unit
ed States considers unarmed merchant
ships and ships armed for defensive
purposes to be in identically the same
class.
The state department is carefully
viewing from various angles assur-
ances given in the early days of the
war by Great Britain to the effect that
the guns on her merchant ships would
be used only for defensive purposes. 1t
was admitted that the department has
in it's possession information charging
that since the assurances were given
certain British merchantmen have
used their armament for offensive at
tacks on German submarines. The
information, however, came through
German sources and is not regarded
as being conclusive evidence.