The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-02-25
sURANCEs UNDERSEA WAR;
FARE WILL NOT VIOLATE
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
LUSITANIA AGEEMENT is
NOT FORMALLY ACCEPTED
Tsuton Notes Regarding Armed Ships
Not in Accord With Assurances
Given by Governments Over
Sinking of British Liner and
Italian Steamer Ancona.

Washington, Feb. 19.-The United
States in it's submarine controversy
with Germany will accept nothing
short of full and complete agreement
covering all the points for which 1t
has contended as to assurances that
Teutonic undersea warfare in the flu
ture will be conducted in accordance
with established principles of inter
national law.
In announcing that fact Secretary
Lansing let it be known that the state
department considers Germany's dec
laration of its intention to sink with
out warning, after Feb. 20, all armed
merchant ships of the Entente allies
to be inconsistent with assurances
given previously by the Berlin govern
ment.
Not Accepted Formally.
The tentative communication de-
signed to end the Lusitania case, still
in the possession of Secretary Lans-
ing, will not be accepted formally I'M
til such assurances regarding the fu-
ture are given, although the communi-
cation insofar as it relates to the Lusi-
tania itself is acceptable.
State department officials also con-
slider that the Austro-Hungarian men,
orandum regarding armed ships is not
in accord with assurances given by the
government in negotiations over the
sinking of the Italian steamship An
coma. Consequently final settlement of
the Ancona case, once postponed be-
cause Of doubt regarding the circum-
stances attending the sinking of the
British steamship Persia, probably will
be withheld until Austria gives assur-
ances similar to those now requested
from Germany.
Explains Americas Views.
The views of the United States were
explained in detail by Secretary Lans-
ing to Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador. The ambassador
was informed, it was indicated at the
state department, that the United |
States desires the German declaration |
armed merchant ships to be |
modified.
Later in the day the ambassador
sent long dispatch to his government
explaining the position and require
ments of the United States.
1t was stated emphatically in Teu-
tonic diplomatic circles that the Ber-
lin foreign Office will not modify it's
declaration of intention to sink armed
ships unless Great Britain gives assur
ances of some kind that submarine
which warns British steamship,
armed ostensibly for defensive pur
poses, will not be fired upon.
Armed for Defense.
In this connection, it was explained
It the state department that the Unit
I'd States considers unarmed merchant
,hips and ships armed for defensive
purposes to be in identically the same
lass.
The state department is carefully
'iewing from various angles assur-
noes given in the early days of the
var by Great Britain to the effect that
he guns on her merchant ships would
re used only for defensive purposes 1t
vas admitted that the department has ,
n its possession information charging ,
hat since the assurances were given ,
ertain British merchantmen have !
sed their armament for offensive at ,
acks on German submarines. The
however, came through ,
ierman sources and is not regarded =.
8 being conclusive evidence. :