The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-09
Further Explanation of Its Stand Made - Comedies Submarine Not Governed by International Law
INSTRUCTIONS ARE
 TO BE SUBMITTED
 TO GREAT BRITAIN
State Department Will Be in No Hurry to Act-Echoes of Presidents Victory
 Heard in Congress

Washington, March s.-Germany today made further explanation to the United States of the position it has taken in
 regards to armed merchant vessels of the entente allies.
 Count von Bernstorfe handed Secretary after reviewing the events leading up to Germany's recent decraration to treat armed merchant ships as auxiliary crui- sers, conceded that existing international law does not regulate the use of subma- ! rines, indicated willingness to conduct urdersea warfare in accordance with the law prevailing at the outbreak of the war providing Great Britain and her allies
 would regard the same laws, and ex- pressed the hope that the people of the
 United States, rememoering the long ex- isting friendly relations between the two nations, would appreciate the German po- l sitlon. aa
 WILL NOT HURRY ACTION ] The memorandum was submitted to President Wilson shortly after it's. receipt
 I. will be considered, together with other
 documents from the German government i in determining what shall be the next step of the United States in the subrna- rine negotiations. There was every indi- cat tion that the administration would be i in no hurry to annouHce a stand as to ] the new policy of the central European
 power, or to pass finally upon Germanys latest proposal for settlement of the
 Lusitania case.
 Echoes of Presidenf Wilson's victory in
 the fight to end agitation in Congress ] over the armed ship qsestion were heard
 today on both sides of the capitol. In ] the Senate Senator Stone. chairman of 1 the foreign relations cornmittee, made statement, after. conference with the
 President, announcing that because of
 the chance that his remarks might be- miscounstrued abroad. ne would not make
 speech he had prepared for delivery l te morrow. He referred to the difficult l ties by which the executive was beset, and declared that President Wilson's su- preme wish was to avoid the calamity
 of war.
 ON HOUSE SIDE
 On the House side several members
 asked leave to extend in the record their remarks of yesterday on the tabling of 1 the McLemore armed snip resolution, and Minority Leader Mann took occasion to 1 suggest that some had voted on both ! sides of the question on the test ballots so they could explain their positions to constituents on either side Representa- tive Fess of Ohio began a reply. but MT. Mann shut off further argument by . 1 point of order.
 1 From both the White House and the state department there came during the day emphatic denials of a rumor that l the administration itself intended to warn 1 American citizens off armed ships. At 1 the state department it was explained i that it was for the citizens themselves
 who took passage on armed ships now entering American waters to determine whether they were boarding vessels armed defensively or extensively. and the nature of the instructions under which 1 ship captains would act in the presence 1 of submarine An extensively armed 1 ship which enters Americans waters 1t
 was said, would be regarded as war vessel and would not be allowed to re-
 main more than A hours. In foreign (Continued on Page Twelve)