The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-29
But Evidence 10 Support ~
Charges Il Said to- Have Been
Seized in Mails BY English
OFFICIALS DO NOT
FEAR EARLY BREAK
Won Bernstorf Says All Prev
GUS Assurances Hold Coed
No Passenger Liner 8 N
Attacked Unless Known tD
Be Armed u

W84xkAhhBtQ1A EOUs 3os-sLANO
man government nOti011 ~
United States today thai ~ 49, 1s1
submarine cam paign agnan
armed enemy mekCnnnf0O - ksa
tustia0d under international laW
and viii be launched, - plnmned.
~ uidnlght on Tuesday.
Al the same time onlcia1a ~ t11a
state Department ard Gegman
embaasy said they wer0 mt -
prehensfvo of new Submarine sd1N Ss.s
flcu1t1cs while negotiations - Ee
The German nmbaaln0or tOSd
Secretary Lansing that no pa1Dcn~
gcr vessels will be attacked 49,
lc8s the submarine Cummnam<1eE
has positive proof that 4 4 NM
armed.
Semi oficial warning was given
late from high administrators auAfter
enemy passenger vessels armed tor o&s
TENSE. at their peril
Secretary Lansing received the Csxss
man communication without c0fnu1e4zs
He announced afterwArds that t1o
United States will talke no further A<s
-ti0n until the appendices 70 thu
man memorandum. siving. Ml.s4
III armament hy Hfltisli IsseroI 1
men. u received from Berlin.
May Have Hoesa seizcd II. 3.
In this connection the r0pox&
reached washington today that tl1o
appendices had been seized by ~
British government from the steAnaers,
Nieuw Amsterdam. taken from thA
State Department diplomatic pouch
and are now held In London OnlctalA
disclaimed knowledge Of such setxnro.
but they admitted they did not know
~. ~ fhn -
since they were dispatched from BAry
lin by Ambassador Gerard.
Officials admitted also that seixuxN
Of a diplomatic mail pouch, espectat2A
ly pouch containing the imp0rtAMf
Photographic copies Of British secr4k
orders. would raise = serious queek401s
between the United tSates and GreMt
Britain They refused 10 comme1f
until ofiicial reports are available.
The communication from Berlin. d.
livered to Secretary lansing. h0ld9
that the announced submarine cam
paign does not contravene earlier -
surances given the United States that
no resisting liners will be sunk WttAs
out warning. Hss
The German ambassador subnnitte6
tc the State Department also eyidemce
concerning the orders given BritiIG
merchantmen to use arms O3enSiySk&s
against Grman submarines. He k4xd
4 list of twenty-five instances WHERE'S
armament had been used ILLEGALLY lx
attacking submarines. n Il
Baron Zwiedinek. the AnGkk5ml
charge, later visited the state
partment and notified Secretary ~
fully sui ssribes to the position c8 t4
ally. Germany. The Austrian ChnE4
did not leave q memorandum. Ssfs3
R0he Them Of In1Nnsn111e1 81 81 sss
Following the visits at the Hot1fe
diplomats, ii Was said on haah
authority that while fha Unit&d n<Atee
recognjz es the right Of arcat Hfttn51
to give such orders ~ 4 wlsaass
commanders OF merchant ye1roIM
proof ii estaI lished that orders NeY4
given 10 use armament otKeuGfFA1Y
such action would rob the offondin&
merchantmen Of immunity from m
marine attack. SO 8
The significant statement wa1 nhs1
on the highest authority that
The United STATES n cont
for the right of Americans M ~
on ships defensively ARMED a m ~ S
contendinK for the right cs AnnNf
commanders aro under necrek m E@
to use gums olk4nstvely. MI u IA a5X
II was defirtteaY Indicated t5xok
Germany proves Such orders hAxe y
Issued there Will no 4 1peAdy -
ment az the entire 9nbsmAx1n4
troverny. including the I'm i
Arabic cases which are nsl(l n e
Final disposition ~ IN co4f
Will ia withheld until ~ (n1D
proofs reach Wsshiuxt Ton H.
Secretary lansing Wilt ss =
situation IN all ~ p1zas1 ~ Z
Cabinet VIII consider h Il