Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-03-09
Hopes American People
Will Appreciate Posi-
ton of Germans.
NEW EXPLANATION
GIVEN TO LANSING
Stone Says Wilson's Su-
prcmc Wish Is to Avoid
Calamity of War.
NIASlIINGTON. March s.-Ger.

w many today made "A further cx.
planation to the United States OF the
position 1t has taken in regard TO
armed merchant vessels of the en-
tcnte allies.
Count Won Bcrnstortf handed Sec
rotary Lansing a formal mcmoran-
dunn which after reviewing the events
leading up to Germanys recent de-
cision To treat armed merchant ships
as auxiliary cruisers conceded that
existing International law loes net
regulate the use OF submarines, indi-
Gated a Willingness to conduct UNDER
soa warfare in accordance with the
law prevailing at the outbreak of the
| war providing Great Britain and her
allies would regard the same laws.
| aud expressed the hope that the peo-
pie of the United states remembering
the long existing friendly relations
between the two nations would appre-
cate the German position.
| The memorandum was submitted Ia
President Wilson shortly after IT.
receipt. IT will be considered together
with other documents from the Ger
4 man government. in determining what
J Hildll Dt lll' HtNl NifD Ol tue luiAtI
States IN the submarine negotiations.
There was every indication that the
| administration would be in no hurry
! t. announce stand as to tho new
policy of the central powers or to pass
! finally upon Gormany's latest pro-
| rusal for settlement of the Lusi-
tana case.
Keep out Of War.
! Echoes of President Wilson's VIC
/ tory in the fight to end agitation In
congress over the armed ship question
were heard today on both sides of the
/ capitol In the senate Senator Stone,
chairman of the foreign relations COM
m.ttee, made "A statement after Il
conference with the president an
nouncing that because of the chance
| that his remarks might be miscon-
| strued abroad. he would not make
| speech he had prepared for delivery.
lie referred to the difficulties by
/ which the executive was beset and
declared that President Wilson's SUI
preme wish was to avoid the calamity
of war.
on the house side several members
| asked leave to extend in the record
their remarks of yesterday on the
| tabling of the McLemore armed ship
resolution, and Minority Leader Mann
! took occasion to suggest that some
had voted on both sides of the ques-
| tion on the test ballots so they could
explain their positions to constituents
on either side. Representative Fess
of Ohio began reply, but Mr. Mann
shut off further argument by "a point
| of order.
Rumor Denied
From both the White House and the
state department there came during
! the day emphatic denials of a rumor
/ thar tbD nd m mi : "A lion itself intnnb-
ed to warn American citizens off
armed ships. At the state department
it was explained that 1t was for the
citizens themselves who took passage
ON armed ships not entering Ameri-
can waters to determine whether they
were boarding vessels armed de-
| fensively or extensively and the nature
of the instructions under which ship
captains would act in the presence of
"A submarine. An extensively armed
ship which enters American waters, 1t
was said, would be regarded as "a war
vessel and would not be allowed to
remain in more than "a hours. In
foreign waters, however 1t is no con-
| cern of this government how ships are
armed.
The new submarine campaign of
| the central powers has now been in
operation eight days and up to tonight
the state department had no reports
of any act 10y German or Austrian
submarine commander under the
changed orders State department
officials make no secret of the fact
that they do not believe any acts wiz
be committed If they can he avoided.
which involve the death or injury OF
American citizens.
Administration officials began con-
sidering today the complete trans
lated documents appended To the
German declaration of intentions. 1t
was indicated that the next move by
the United States might take the form
Of an inquiry to Great Britain as to
the authenticity of the German con-
| fidential copies of alleged instruc-
lions to British sea captains.
Careful Consideration.
When attention was called to the
apparent discrepancies between the
German and the British versions OF
the instructions officials pointed out
that the date on the German version
was prior to that ON the British ver-
sion. II was said that future events
would bc considered In the light of
| the orders now In force.