Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
Nothing to Be Made Public Off,
cially Until All Entente Powers
Have Responded.
CALMER ON CAPITOL HILL
Leaders Now Say House Will Not Be
Prevented From Voting on
Resolution of Warning,
It Is Wishes.

Lansing indicated today, may
discuss the question OF what
properly may be regarded as
armament on a merchant ship, II
the question is raised.
Confidential advices from Ber-
lin have forecast proposal tor
such discussion by Germany,
which contends that armament
permitted under international law
as defensive had become offensive
with the advent of the submarine
Until the question is raised Mr.. Lans-
ing regards it as premature to an
nounce the position of the State De-
partment.
Reply From Italy Received.
One of the entente allies. to which
ament of merchant ships, replied today.
Although Secretary Lansing declined to
tell the name of the replying power, 1t
was learned that it was Italy and that
the reply was argumentative rather than
conclusive 1t was pointed out that 1tal
ian liners give pledges not to use their
armament, except for defense. when clear
ing from American ports.
With the apparent quieting down of
the situation in Congress the subma-
rine crisis shifts back to the negotia-
tions between Secretary Lansing and
Count Won Bernstorff.
House in Calmer Mood.
The House of Representatives appear
ed today to be in a calner mood, and
the cloakroom revolt against the Presi-
dents stand on the armed-ship propo-
sition had settled down to a mere wait
ing to see what the international de-
yeIopments would bring forth.
The leaders of the majority seem to
have the situation well in hand, and.
DESPITE the grumblngs and mutterings,
the promise is made by responsible
veterans of the House that no action
will be taken to stir up trouble for the
President or to embarrass the admin
istration After the revolt had been
gagged and bound administration
leaders calmly announced that there
would be no disposition to prevent
vote on a warning resolution II the
House really wanted It,
Therefore it would seem that the
situation needs "atching, aithough
cvnics to believe the three-day revo-
!ution is over.
To Publish Replies Together.
When Secretary Lansing announced
that ore of the entente allies had re-
nlied TO his suggestion for the dis
armament OF merchant ships. he de-
c,ioed to give the nature OF the reply
or to tell from w,.ich government it
come, saying he probably would make
al! the replies public when they were
received.
,rhe state Department had expected
a Joint reply BY all the allies, and re-
cei-,t from only one was a surprise to
secretary Lansing made it clear he
did not consider there was any differ
cnce of opinion between any Of the
Governments involved in the submarine
Negotiations regarding the principle
involved
The department considers that the
German and Austrian governments in
their memorandum clearly inferred
that their intended action was de-
narture from the recognized princi-
ples of international law, which they
deemed necessary because of changed
conditions.
Secretary Lansing considers that had
the German and Austrian governments
been of the opinion that their action
was not "a departure from internation-
al law they would have issued no MEM
orandum, t..t would have proceeded to
to Justify them later.
Secretary Lansing said he was un-
able to announce at this time whether
the United States would enter into a
discussion of what might properly be
considered defensive armament. He
indicated. however, that such a discus
sion could properly be entered into, ad-
ding that the question had not been
raised by Germany at this time and
that the State Department considers an
announcement on the subject would be
premature.
! No Transfer to Berlin.
| Mr. Lansing said there was no in
| tention of transferring the negotia-
tions to Berlin to be conducted be-
tween Ambassador Gerard and the Ber-
F., lin foreign office, as was intimated in
dispatches published abroad. and re-
F, iterated that the State Department had
heard nothing more from Germany on
| its request for a declaration that the
| new submarine campaign would not be
conducted in violation of previous as
| surances for the safety of Americans
| travelling on unresisting liners.
| While the situation in Congress aD
| parently is being held in check by the
| administration leaders, the State De-
| partment continues to await receipt Of
! certain appendices to the Austro-G Ger