The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-10-13
WILSON AND LANSING
DISCUSS NEW POINTS
President and Secretary OF State GG
Over Submarine Situation
Carefully.

today German submarine attacks on
merchantmen Sunday off the New
England coast. The conference last
ed until late tonight and will be con-
tinued tomorrow morning.
1t was indicated by officials today
that facts so far collected through
government agencies have disclosed
no grounds for drastic action by the
United States government because OF
the attacks themselves. No evidence
has been found that international
law was violated by the German sub
! marines. 1t was understood, how
ever, that the president and Secre-
tary Lansing discussed the wisdom OF
pointing out to Germany the iRadEis-
ability of operating her submarines
in close proximity to the territorial
waters of the United States.
administration officials took the
position that the transferring OF SUD-
marine warfare so close to America 5
shores was fraught with grave danger
because of the possibility of mist'kes
being made by submarine com
manders. Reports that strong sentl-
ment exists in Germany for the re-
sumption of submarine warfare on d
broader scale caused some alarm
among officials.
The announcement of Counselor
Polk of the state department in
Washington today that the United
States will refust to accept the con-
tention of the entente allies that neu-
trails should deny the use OF thelf
harbors to all submarines preceaed
the arrival of Secretary Lansing here.
Gerard in Picture.
The arrival of James W. Gerard
American ambassador to Berlin, IN
| New York shortly before Mr.. Lansing
le{t that city for Shadow Lawn added
interest to the meeting between the
| president and Mr. Lansing because of
tha fact that the secretary saw Mr.
Gerard at luncheon in New York.
In discussion of the hubmarines at
tacks sund,y officials here referred to
aiplomatic correspondence between the
Emitted States and Great Britain, be-
ginning in 1914, in which the Amerl-
cal, government protested against the
natrolling of the American coast out
side the three mile limit by Warsnlps'
This was pointed to as provldlng d
nrecedent for protesting against the
proximity of German submarines 10
the American coast.
In the correspondence With Great
.Britain the United States took the
nosition that it always had maintained
tnat ratrolling by belligerent cruisers
in/ "close proximity 10 ports OF the
| United States was inconsistent with
the treatment to be expected from the
vessels of a friendly power in time OF
war. Great Britain did not admit the
legal correctness of the position OF the
United States, but promised to do ev-
erything possible to avoid annoying
American shipping.
While no formal announcement was
made it was considered probable the
United States would take a position
with regard to German submarine
operations similar to that assumed IN
connection with the coast patrol. There
was absolutely no indication that the
president and Secretary Lansing haa
any ground for thinking Germany had
violated it's promises not to attack
merchantmen without warning and
without providing for the safety OF
passengers and crews. 1t WAS stated,
however, that evidence still was being
collected and that no final decision cl
this point had been reached.
The secretary came to Long Branch
at $40 o'clock this afternoon Pres
ident Wilson was at the station to meet
him. 1t was the first time he and
Secretary Lansing had seen each otn-
er since the president left Washing
ton early in September. They went
Immediately to Shadow Lawn. There
was no discussion of the submarine
question until o'clock when dihner
was finished. Then the president and
Secretary Lansing went into the entire
question in detail. 1t was said they
would confer until so late there was
no possibility of an announcement to-