South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-09
AngIO-FrenCh Answer to the
United States Protest
Declines to Accept
American View.
ENGLISH FOREIGN OFFICE
USES DILAT0RY TACTICS
Make Repeated Demands Nee
eSSary to Bring About Re-
ply to Representations
of This Country.
international News Service:


WASHINGTON, March 9. - The
United States will go into the merits
OF merchant vessel armament in it's
discussions of the entire question
with the European belligerents. The
British explanation of it's plans,
which denies or justifies most of the
German contentious that its mer-
chant captains are TO attack sub
marines already has been drawn in
London. The memorandum, how
ever. probably will be withheld until
it is learned just what the United
States will do in its negotiations
with Germany. Meanwhile the note
explaining that no British vessels in
the Atlantic trade. excepting those
plying to and from Mediterranean
ports, will be armed, is expected
shortly TO be handed to Sec'y Lans-
ing by the British ambassador. Of
ffcials hope that it will be so framed
that It can be used as an entering
wedge for the renewal of the Amer
lean attempt 10 arrange a modus
vivendi on the entire submarine
question.
Britain Also NiOlatOr.
incidentally officials pointed out
today that the matters in dispute
with Great Britain We're fully as Sc
rious, insofar as the charge Of ruth
less violation OF international law
was concerned, as are those with
Germany. The Anglo-French answer
TO the American mails protest is on
its way to Washington. 1t specifically
refuses to accept the American view
that The Hague convention permit
ted all mail-belligerent as we'll as
neutral-the right Of passage to it's
destination unmOlested. On the
contrary. Great Britain holds. state
department officials have learned,
that England is applying its internal
laws providing for search to all mail
on the pretext that. inasmuch as
neutral vessels are taken into Brit
ish ports TO be searched they auto
matically become subject to port
law England also has rejected the
United States contention that her
trading with the enemy edict" is
a violation Of American rights I'M
der international law and has de-
clined to modify it.
Sharp Answer to be Made.
There is no doubt in official circles
that as soon as these replies are re-
ceived here sharp answer will be
made 1t is said to be realized fully
by both the president and Sec'y
Lansing that there is an apparent
cause for complaint in Germany
that this government has been de-
handing that the Teutonic allies
observe the letter and spirit of in
ternational law while failing to hold
the Angio-French allies to the same
strict accountability. This has been
due however, officials point out. to
the dilatory tactics pursued by the
British foreign office which forced
the United States to press repeated
ly for a reply on the mails contro-
versy before it could be secured.
Reply Date Uncertain.
Just when this government will
reply to the German note dealing
with the renewal Of the submarine
warfare and The appendices and ex-
plantations that accompanied it, is
not known. 1t is stated that the
president and Sec'y Lansing will
confer regarding il before any ac-
ton whatever is taken Officials be-
heve that the latest German explain
alton, made public yesterday. ma
terially has helped the German
cause. It is accepted that Germany
would Willingly call off her subna-
rine warfare against merchant ships
If the United States can secure con-
cessions that would be considered a
fair return. II is also suggested here
today that the German note opens
the way for another effort 10 have
the declaration of London accepted
as the last word in international law
governing war If the United States
should so desire.
The chief danger ofcomplications
at present is in the fact that one Of
the TeutOnic submarines now out
may sink a steamer without warn
ing on which an American is
passenger Even though this should
occur officials say. no preciptate ac-
tior would be taken. but the pres
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR.)