The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-12
Endless Negotiations Over Status of Armed Mer-
 chantmen in Prospect
NO ACTION UNTIL
 TEXT REACHES HERE
Policy of This Government Will Then Be Quickly Defined-The Entente Allies Will Protest at Any
 Change in Present Situation

Washington, February 11.-Diplomatic negotiations of various characters soon will confront the United States as the result of the expressed intention of the German and Austrian governments to treat armed merchant ships of the en- tente allies as war vessels after Feb ruary %.
 Apparently it is certain, if the temper of the allied governments can be judged by the feelings of their diplomatic repre- sentatives here, that any attempt by the United States to change the present rule permitting the use of American ports by merchant ships armed for defensive purposes will be met by strong pro- test. Correspondence also is likely to follow if the United States assume a position which coincides with that of Germany and Austria regarding the right of submarines to sink armed ships with out warning.
 On the other hand the United States itself may take the initiative should the entente allies impose virtual boycott on American ports in the event of this government deciding that armed mer- chant ships entering American waters are ships of war and therefore subject to internment
 ARE AWAITING TEXTS
 The definite attitude of the United States toward the stated intention of German and Austria will be determined after the formal texts of the notes, which have been handed to Ambassador Gerard and Ambassador Penfield are received from Berlin and Vienna Once the texts are before officials here it is ment quickly will be, defined. Only IS days remain before German and Aus trian submarine commanders will start to put their new instructions in opera tion.
 The view of at least some of the rep resentatives of the entente allies here, is that any change in the rules bearing submarine warfare during the war should be an unneutral act. The governments are represented as not being prepared to admit that there has been any change in the conditions of naval warfare which would warrant merchant ships armed for defensive purposes being characterized warships
 In Teutonic quarters, however, it is contended that merchant ships armed for defensive purposes are really armed for resistance and that merchant ships have no right to resist. Moreover, it is claimed by Germany that it is impos- sible to adhere to the principle of warn- .~., ,,, the views of the United States should they be armed; a single shell of small calibre being sufficient to sink any sub marine which might attempt to warn such vessel. It is admitted supmarine have d right to stop enemy armed mer- chantmen.
 INCLINED TO AGREE
 American officials seem inclined to the view that the contentious of the Ger man and Austrian governments are well founded and from several quarters today came the information that the United States might warn it's nationals to re- main off the merchant ships that are armed. This was said in German cir cies was precisely what the German and Austrian governments have been aiming to accomplish.
 The possibility of the entente allies putting into effect practical boycott of American ports was widely discussed in official circles today. It has been in timated that the allies might see fit to permit only a sufficient number Of their unarmed ships to enter American ports to take away merchandise and goods consigned to themselves
 It was admitted in high official
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