The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-11
VIRTUAL BOYCOTT OF AMERICAN PORTS
 MAY DEVELOP FROM
 PRESENT SITUATION
Continued from Page one)

might have the chance to make their views conform to the suggestions put forward by the United States Tn it's memorandum. This memorandum de- cared it was desirable that merchant ships should be unarmed, and contained an intimation of an intention to regard armed merchantmen which come into American waters as warships. It was recognized that submarines had right to operate in accord with international law, but their commanders could not be expected to endanger their vessels and crews in dealing with armed ships
 While state department officials de- clined to discuss the notifications re- eeived, it was admitted in various quar- ters that the question probably would receive little opposition from the state department It was considered that the immediate effect of the notification would be to cause the department to announce more quickly than had been deemed advisable it's intention to aban- don the old ruling made before Ger man cruisers were driven from the seas which permitted merchant ships to car- ry arms for defensive purposes.
 The department is known to have hoped to secure an agreement of all of the entente allies to disarm their merchant ships and then to secure a pledge from the central powers to re- frain absolutely from attacking such unarmed ships without warning.
 Secretary Lansing said today that none of the allies had replied to his note. Other officials suggested that the announced intentions of the Ger man and Austrian governments would force the hands of the entente allies.
 WILL BE REJECTED
 t stated that, although word had not been received from their governments, not the slightest doubt prevailed that the suggestions of the United States would be rejected.
 Confronted with the virtual threat of the United States to classify armed merchant ships as war vessels and therefore not entitled to enter Amer ican waters more than once in every six months or to remain more than "A hours, it was said at one of the em- bassies here that if the United States, in face of the desperate need of ships to carry it's products abroad, could af- ford to exclude from it's ports allied merchantmen, the governments own ing them could afford to send in only enough to take out goods consigned to themselves. There seemed reason to believe that the view obtained at that embassy fairly reflected at this time
 
 the position of other allied govern ments.
 It was said at the embassy that such action virtually would amount to a boycott of American ports. It was also cCntended that such a course would be far-reaching and disturbing to American trade in general It was sug- gested that the unarmed merchant ships which did enter American ports would be met outside the three-mile 1 limit by warships and conveyed to | their destination, or that the ships themselves might be armed at sea. In connection with the American I memorandum, based upon the under standing that only submarines of the 1 central powers were at sea, a high of ficial was asked whether the reported presence in the Atlantic of the Moewe l or Ponga, captor of the Appam, al- tered the viewpoint of this govern ment. He replied that it was doubtful that the presence of one raider would make much difference. It was ad- ! mitted, however, that should more Ger | man raiders make their appearance
 consideration might be given to changed conditions.