The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-25
MAY STAY
U BOAT CAMPAIGN
Lansing Assures Senator
Flood Situation Is I'm
proving.
BRITISH ORDERS VITAL

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24.-Both at the
state Department and in German EN-
bassy circles this afternoon there ap'
peared to be a strong belief that Ger
many and Austria would postpone thu
effective date Of their new submarine
campaign from March 1 to April 1.
Whether or not this belief. backed b!
more or less DEFINITE information from
German sources. was responsible for Sec
rotary Ianslng's assurances to Chair
mar Flood OF the House COMMITTEES OF
Foreign Affairs that the situation wa
improved II is known that Count vol
Bernstorff. told his Government tina
such an offer would be advisable.
As Austria Is following closely thc leaf
Of Germany. a postponement by on
would mean a postponement by both.
In that event. officials Of the Depart
ment are more than ever convinced
further discussion Of The issue betweel
the two Governments IL inevitable. Con
fdential information received in Wash
ington indicates that Germany Will I'm
struct Ambassador Won Bernstorn TO In
auire Of the United States how II is pos
s.ble to draw a distinction etween arma
ment for offence and armament for de
fence In the light OF the orders given D.
the British Admiralty to British mer
chant ships 20 use their defensive arma
ment TO fire on hostile submarines a
sight.
viii Ask 4. g.. stand First.
Gcrmsny probabi: will ask this ques
ton before she attempts to answer tn
query OF the United States as to whethe
or not her previous assurances cove
armed merchant vessels. Having aske
that question. Germany. II Is believed
would be willing to postpone the opera
| ton Of her new campaign pending
reply from the United states.
In the absence If the appendices I
the German declaration. which apper
diccs contain wha, purports to he tn
official text OF the British orders. L
Department officials admit that ~ woul
he difficult for The United states on
hand to answer such a query from Gel
many.
That !s 20 say. II II develops after c,
animation o! the British orders tia
british merchantmen have been directe
TO use their defensive armament onei
sIyely against submarines u will
questionable whether the United Stat'
could insist that such merchantmen. eve
with Americans on board. would lie e'
titled 10 warning rs German submarine
1t is possible. therefore. officials su,
ges,ed, that the United States befol
taking a final stand with Germany m!El
inquire Of the British Government AS
the authenticity OF the alleged seer
orders. should Great Britain repudia
a.. e-1.r. as rnp-.Soysal in ,ta lserna
text, or agree to a modification OF thei
officials OF the state Department are ST
hopeful tha some modus vivenii c,ar
flying the entire situation may be a
ranged.
No Immediate Break.
So much depends on these secret n
ders. both from the standpoint Of &
~soundness of ';ermany's defence of
new declaration and from the stan
point of the future course OF tho Unit,
States. that the State department Of
cials ind II impossible to subscribe
the idea that there Is any likelihood
an immediate break In the negotiate
without an opportunity for further d
cuss.on.
Secretary Lansing refused this afts
noon to throw any definite light OF wh
HTtTlIbNeu NlU1 w YET ' idlTFIidn u ~
, that the situation was improved.
denied he had received any fresh co
mun!cations on tho subject either fr'
the American embassy In Berlin or fr,
a the German embassy here.
, Because OF this denial there was
disposition In some quarters to belle
4 that perhaps Mr.. ISans!ng's conaiei
n that the situation was Improved" y
a born % an understanding whl'h he
reached with the President that the d
cussion would be continued with q
AMY II the Pcrlin Government z
to n p~ostponeMent Of the new =
marine can paiCn. But n Mr.. lans
reached such an understanding with
President to-day Il mus, have been q
, the telephone. as nc DID rot go TO
= White House.
In the course Of the dav tho Sec
tary held a conference WITH Sir G,
u Srring-Rice. the British Ambassad
c but I, was said this conference mcr
= related TO the case OF tho prize :
n Appam AT Newport News. concern
u the disposition OF which the state
partment Is still TO announce a decisi
e "Excitement Dying Down"
Tie Secretary. In response "a urg
il'Nbtls'' an ~ '"' 9 ~ ''F
10 Mr.. Flood. cvadrd a ar
answer. suggesting, however. that
contrihutorv element To the inlproven
:, Was undoubtedly the fact hat the x
cral excitement IN Washington nppea
TO be less pronounced.
In Teutonic circles doubt vas
Y pressed as to whether there was gro,
. for the Impression IN Congress that
g President was on the point OF sever
y diplomatic relations with Germany.
these quarters the fear has been
pressed on several occasions that q,
"A break would sooner or later lead
n more serious consequences.
While II II said that Germany
no desire 10 go TO war with the Uni
a States, II has heen pointed out that
'e Of the FIRST results OF war betNeen
y two countries would he to leave q
many free to throw over all her r
e assurances regarding submarine warf
y and permit her 20 attack unarred
d well as armed merchantmen with
warming