New Britain herald., 1916-02-28
BERLIN IS FIRM DETERMINATION
 SINK ARMED SH
Note Presented Today SayS| many Cannot Conceive Of Rt
 for POStpOning Its Alta
CLAIMS BRITAIN ORDER1
 SUBMERSIBLES DESTR(

UUDWUIlOlDIUO UUD Ol Armed British Ships Not Rccod
 As Peaceful Traders and 1t Dc #
 Armament on All of Them Is
 Used for Purposes of Attacl-
 marines Cannot Give Warmth
 Fear of Being Sunk ThemscIv
 Washington, Feb. 2S.-In M presented to Secretary Lansing 8 by Count Von Bernstorff, the GeM ambassador, Germany assures United States that it has no intd of revoking the pledges given in# Lusitania case.
 The note says Germany can ceive of no reason for changin postponing the new instructions Il submarine commanders to treaH warships enemy merchant ships a3 "defensively," and that special cautions have been taken to pr4 ships that are not armed from a attacked. .e
 Pledges Reiterated.
 The note at the outset reiterateI previous pledges, which were \ on September 1, and October 5I year, for the safety of unresi| liners, and then goes on to say German government does not be| those assurance have been mod by the new memorandum.
 During the negotiations over Lusitania, it says, no mention made of armed merchantmen, that the United States in one o notes on the Lusitania mentioned armed merchantmen. Attention is called to the assurances previd given, in which it is stated that II will not be sunk without warning vided they do not offer resistance! tention also is called to the stated of the American government in it's tice to port authorities that the f ence of armament on board a l chant vessel creates the presumI that the vessel is armed for offens
 Puts Submarine on Defensive
 It is stated that a submarine ( mander cannot be expected to \ an enemy merchantmen which a right to fire on the subma which warns it and the German ernment sets up the contention equipment and intention to resi- warning. given by a submarine not come within the definition of fensive armament.
 &ermany contends that sin viewpoint was taken by the Un States and that it secured assura, from the Italian government
 it's armed merchant ships lea ports would not fire upon subr ines which warned them.
 Ships Armed for Attack.
 The note then sets forth that German government did not i it's new instructions to subma commanders until after it had c into possession of confidential structions by the British governn to the commanders of British q chantmen. 1t is denied that ar British merchant ships of any cription are peaceful traders am is declared that the armament board all of them is to be used pecially for purposes of attack.
 The charge is made that AuAtl also have been attac by armed British merchantm which the note declares are not c forming, and have no intention conforming, to the assurances gil to the United States by the BrIA in a memorandum N Aug. 25. 1914 by Sir Cecil Spri' Rice, the British ambassador German government says 1t cam see how the American goyernme in consideration of these facts, { regard armed British merchantn as peaceful trading ships.
 The note makes it clear that Berlin government believes it's II to submarine commai CTS are in accord with the yiewpC expressed by the United States it's memorandum proposing a mo vivendi to the entente allies for disarmament of merchant ships.
 It declares that German submar have been so instruo hat they will not destroy a mcrch; ship on a question of armament, | css it is known positively that su ornament exists. The declaratl tl bat previous pledges will not be -okcd also is formally given.
 The efforts of the United States nave the belligerents agree to T. odus vivendi which would cause merchant ships to be disarmed, ft leclared, are welcomed by German
 No Postponement Modifcation
 Then follows a declaration that [ icrmun government will no long How it's submarines to be made | bject of attacks in violation of f rinciples of international law, a'