The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-26
SUBMARINE NOTE
 IS NOT POPULAR British Think It Gives Ger mans All the Advantage IRRITATION IS FELT
Success of Plan Would Rely on Ger man Promises and Past Events Have Shown How Much Reli-
 ance Can Be Placed on Them

London, March 1.-(Special From the commencement of the war there has been aroused good deal of natural irrita- tion in England and throughout the al- lied countries when the American gov ernment has protested agains the block ade, the treatment of neutral commerce ct cetera. Americas viewpoint has usu- ally been recognized, but with these bel ligerents engaged in life-and-death struggle attempts on the part of the American government, even when it was looking after it's legitimate interests have not been popular Some of the pro posals and arguments set forward by the United States have been decidedly dis tasteful. But for all the notes which America has sent during these long months of war none has been received With such indignation and irritation as the latest suggestion from the state de- partment that the belligerents make a certain agreement for the control of sub marine warfare
 It is considered here that the scheme America suggests would be of overwhel1n- ing advantage to the Germans. On that account the American suggestions are considered to border close on being actu- ally unfriendly.
 have had conversation on the sub ject with an official whose opinion is, 1 can guarantee about the best there is to be had.
 The American governments proposal is impossible he said, and I must say that it was drafted with seemingly d total disregard for the rights of the al- lies. The first great mistake is a com plete failure to consider our feelings to- yra arI c,tl,, tbaxr may think about German submarine methods in America, in the allied coun- tries we look upon the U-boats as pirates, entitled to no consideration. But this American proposal gives the German sub marine every consideration. We will not forget the Lusitania, nor the Persia, nor any of scores of other defenseless ves- sels which have been sunk, and their passengers and crews murdereo
 What America proposes is that mer- chant vessels simply stop and wait to be slaughtered. The passengers and crew must be put in a place of safety. and that depends on guarantee and promise cannot be accepted. After the Lusitania came the Arabic. after the Ancona the Persia.
 .'Merchantmen carry guns in this war to protect themselves from murder, and under the circumstances, they have every flSnt 10 QO So NOW 10 say that thlS means of protection turns the merchant ship into an auxiliary cruiser is prepos- terous. If British subject in the Uni ted States finds that his life is in danger from German secret agents he would be allowed to carry revolver for self-pro- lection. Doing so would not make him a British soldier and thus subJect to some American penalty.
 .One phrase in MT. Lansings S note is that pirates and sea-rovers have disap- reared from the seas. On this side of the water it is not so considered. If the submarine which sunk the Lusitania was not in every essential detail pirate 1 would like to know what she was. I be- lieve even the Germans are on the point