Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
This Governments Position
Will Be Defined Some
Time This Week.
GERMANY'S FORMAL NOTE
AT STATE DEPARTMENT
High Officials Believe Conten-
tions Of Central Powers
Well Founded.
ENTENTE ALLIES TO PROTEST
Will Hold That Change During Wa
Would BE Unneutral
Act.

WASHINGTON. February 1e.-Ger
manys formal note to the United States
announcing it's intention to treat armcd
warships after February 90 reached the
state Department to-day. The policy
OF the United States in regard to the
declaration of the central powers prob
ably will be defined some time next
week. after a note similar to that
issued by Germany is received from
the Vienna Foreign Ofice.
1t was said in high official quarterf
that the United States would have tt
reach L decision quickly, only seven-
teen days remaining before the effec-
tive date of this declaration, afte:
which commanders OF German AMI
Austrian submarines are expected ta
receive orders permitting the torpedo
ing without warning of any ship which
is armed.
There are strong Indications that Va.
rious high officials believe the position
of the central powers to be we!
founded, in view of the changed condi.
tions OF sea warfare. In many quartz
it also is considered that the Teutone
declarations are development OF tn.
allies. suggesting the disarming oi
merchant ships and indicating that
armed merchantmen entering Ameri.
can ports might be regarded as war.
ships. subject to internmcnt.
UNWILLING TO ADOPT
LANSING RECOMMENDATIONS
Representatives OF the entente allie,
have made oral representations to See.
I,on Oi in ROT line hn ,nr;-
cnn memorandum. Although the state
Department declined to make know
the nature of the representations, I.
was believed the secretary was IN,
formed that at least some of the enter;i
governments were unwilling to ado.
the suggestions. and that strong pro,
test might follow should the Unite!
States attempt to put into practice thi
suggestions 1t has made
The State Department has been In.
formed that others OF the entente gov.
crnments were viewing tho question
with open minds, but it was stated OF
high diplomatic authority that the
entente allies probably would agre,
upon a position In the near future.
The contention made in certai,
entente diplomatic circles, that for til.
United States TO change during til.
war its policy regarding the right q.
merchant ships TO arm for defensive
purposes would be an unneutral act
was answered by high official day
He denied that he thought such a
change would be incompatible with til.
neutrality of the United States, and
added that should tho United States
take the position that Germany and
Austria are right in thoir contentious
IL might be claimed that, instead OF
operating against the entente allies
such Il declaration would In reality
help them to save tho lives OF their
nationals, and possibly their ships.
TO SECURE PLEDGES
FOR UNARMED SHIPS
The plan OF the United States has
been to secure from Germany and Aus
tria pledges that no unarmed ships
will be attacked without warning. It
is believed here that the TeutonIc
powers readily would give such pledges.
Officials did not seem inclined to doubt
that such pledges would be given In
good faith and that. together with
assurances already given. the lives OF
noncombatants on unarmed ships would
be safe in the future.
Prospects OF a warning to American
citizens to remain OF vessels that are
armed loomed large to-day. One high
official expressed the belief that Con.
gress would be called upon TO take
some action leading to that end.
Officials OF the State Department also
are considering what effects its deter
limitations as to policy will have upon
American naval policy and opera ttons
in the event this government was en-
gagged in war. The question probably
Will have an important bearing upon
the final decision.