The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-27
CONGRESS
CONTINUED from page /, first setlIOn.)


ident and Secretary Lansing had OPP
portunity to try out the policy OF as
sorting determinedly the right Of
travel on ships bearing arms.
The administration officials were
awaiting the receipt Of the appen-
dices to the latest German memoran-
dun on the subject which contain
what ia alleged to be copy OF con-
tidential instructions given to Brit
ish sea captains. II this document
contains what the German govern
ment, claims, it Is said TO he proba-
BILE inquiries may be addressed to
Great Britain on the subject. The
British government sometime ago
assured the United States that Its
merchant ships would not operate
extensively
May BE Justification.
Germany, in its memorandum gives
as one Of the cardinal reasons for
its determination 10 sink armed
merchant ships of Its enemies with
out warning to the fact that Ger
man submarines have been fred upon
repeatedly by merchantmen which
apparently were engaged In peaceful
pursuits OF commerce. A high Off
cial of the state department. ques-
toned about this contention, gave
1t as his opinion that there might
in certain cases, be justification for
one beligcrent committing acts in
retaliation for violations OF inter-
nati0nallaw committed by an enemy.
II was made plain that the depart
ment will not make any decision in
this connection until It has had OPP
portunity to carefully inspect the ap-
pendices to the German memoran-
DUN.
1t also was indicated at the state
department today that Germany by
recent acts had shown a disposition
to change its original position in re-
gard to the right Of merchant ships
to carry defensive armament. Orig
inally the Berlin government denied
that ii was legal for merchant ships
TO arm at all. Now some officials
here consider thai Germany appears
willing to admit that armament Is
legal II purely, defensive. In other
words. II is believed that the Ger
man government actually Is attempt
ing to change the rules rather than
the law s.t. - s,
Question Of Size and Use.
Should the subject be opened up
for discussion this week, the state
department may. it was said, be will
Z ing TO add that there should be some
regulation regarding the size and use
of defensive armament supplement
tary to the instructions to port au-
thorities issued September 8. 1915,
which permit merchant ships to clear
from American ports provided they
are TO carry no more than two guns,
mounted aft. OF not more than six
inch calibre. AS a matter of fact,
no merchant ships ever have come
into American waters with the max
imum OF armament provided for. In
dications that this question would be
opened for discussion resulted from
publication OF confidential adylces
from Berlin which forecast a request
from Germany to the United States
to define defensive armament.
State department officials were en-
phatic in saying that while addition
al limitations might be placed upon
the defensive armament that may be
carried, such action could not be ex-
tended to require the complete ex.
clusion of armament. That would
be equivalent 1t is held to a change
of international law which cannot BIO
made during the course of hostilities
except by general assent. There are
strong limitations that the Entente
Allies will not consent to such o
change.
Italy Makes Reply.
The first formal reply to the Amer
lean suggestion made weeks ago for
the disarming of merchant ships
came today from Italy. 1t will not
be made public until all the Allies
have responded, but it was learned
that the document was not conclu
sive but rather was argumentative.
While agitation on the subject in
Congress has subsidized for the time
being, the disposition on the part Of
leaders in the movement for con-
gressional warning seemed tonight,
to be waiting one. By recessing
instead Of adjourning, the Senate
reflected the determination of lead
ers to prevent by parliamentary tao
tics any discussion Of the Gore res
olution. Senator Gore in his State
ment characterized this action as
rendering policy of 'watchtul wait
ing unavoidable.
/ Hope for Adjustment.
/ In the meantime" he declared,