Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-27
Ready 10 Discuss With Ger
many What Is to Be Con-
sidered Armament for Mer-
chant Vessels,
DURING CONVERSATIONS
LIFE MUST BE SPARED
Berlin Government Believed
Shifting Its Position to One
More in Harmony With
Washington Views,

lbf MORNING JobNNNt sFtc'e~ LeNeeo W'"Ni
Washington. Feb 26.-Secretary
Lansing indicated today that the Unit"
ed States was prepared under certain
circumstances to discuss with the
German government what may prop
erly be regarded as defensive arma-
ment for merchant ships. In no event
however, according to authoritative
information tonight, will the United
states he q party TO such negotiations
unless It is assured that the lives of
American citizens aboard ships armed
for defensive purposes will not be en-
dangered during the course of the dis
cussion.
Only three days remain before Ger
man and Austrian submarine COM
manders win be instructed to treat
armed merchant ships as war Ves-
sells. There was no indication today
that issuance Of the order, announced
in formal notifications from the CEN
trail powers for February 2s. would
he postponed. al.ipu.,h il Nas admit
ted that a postponement would not
come as surprise
Congressman Pause for Breath.
Leaders in both houses of congress,
who for several days have agitated
passage of resolution warning
Americans not to travel on armed
ships, seemed convinced tonight that
no such measure could he put
through at present. Senator Gore,
who has such a resolution pending,
issued a statement saying that while
he still favors n warning he believed
the object sought by his resolution
already had been accomplished
through public discussion Repre-
sentative McLemore, whose warning
resolution In the house has been kept
from coming up by administration
leaders, said he was content to wait
until the president and Secretary Lam
sing had opportunity to try out their
policy of asserting determinedly the
right to travel on ships bearing arms.
Washington Waits Details.
Administration officials still were
awaiting the receipt of the appendices
TO the latest German memorandum
on the subject which contained what
is alleged TO be a copy Of confidential
instructions given to British sea cap
tains. If this document contains what
the German government claims, it is
said to be probable inquiries may be
addressed to Great Britain on the
subject. The British government
some time ago assured the United
States that its merchant ships would
not operate extensively.
Germany. in its memorandum, gives
as one of the cardinal reasons for its
determination to sink armed merch-
ant ships of its enemies without
warning the fact that German sub
marines have been fired upon repeat
edly by merchantmen which appar-
emily were engaged in peaceful pur-
suits of commerce.
Will Proceed Cautiously.
A high official of the state depart
ment, questioned about this conten-
ton. gave it as his opinion that there
might in certain cases be justifica-
ton for one belligerent committing
acts in retaliation for violations of in
ternational law committed by an
enemy 1t was made plain that the
department will not make any decis-
ion in this connection until it has OPP
portunity to carefully inspect the
appendices to the German memoran-
dunn.
It also was indicated at the state
department today that Germany by
recent acts had shown a disposition to
change her original position IN regard