The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-14
Comment OH New German
Policy on Armed Merchant
men at Washington
AMERICAN CITIZENS
MAY BE WARNED
High Officials Thought to
Believe Berlin's Position
Is Well Founded

Washington, Feb. l4--iieImany''
formal note 10 the United States an
nouncing its intention TO treat armei
merchantmen of the entente allies as
warships after Feb. 20 reached the state
department Saturday. ne policy OF the
United States in regard To the declara-
ton OF thc central powets probably VII
be defined this week after Il similar
note is received from Vienna.
IL was pointed out Saturday in high
official Iu1. tiers that the Emitted Statts
would have TO reach dc1wlon quickly.
There are strong indications that VA
rious high officials be;lvc the posii;0n
OF the central powers to he well founded
in view of the changed conditions of sea
warfare. In many qua tt'- also Is
considered Fiat the reutonic dcclara.
tons are a development o, the American
memorandum 10 TIE rnt 'nte allies. sng-
costing ahe cisarming of nef1aat ships
and indicating that armed mcrchantm, n
entering hmeriean norts rGslt 70 re.
garded as wprships au6ie:t TO intern
ment.
Representatives of various of the en-
tente allies have made official represen
tations to Secretary Lansing regarding
the American memorandum Although
the state department declined to make
known the nature OF the representations,
it was believed the secretary was in
formed that at least some of the entente
governments were unwilling to adopt the
suggestions and that strong protests
might follow should the United States
attempt to put into practice the sugges
tons it has made. The state depart
ment has been informed that others OF
the entente governments were viewing
the question with open minds but it was |
stated on high diplomatic authority that |
the entente allies probably would agree
on a position soon.
The contention in certain entente di
plomatic circles that for the United I
States to change its policy during the
war would be an unneutral act VAS an
s@tred by high official Saturday Such
] change would not be incompatible with
the neutrality OF the United States, he
said, adding that should the United
States take the position that Germany
and Austria are right in their conten
ions it might be claimed that instead
If operating against the entente allies
,uch declaration would in reality belp
hem to save the lives of their nationals
md possibly their ships.
The plan OF the United States has
,een to obtain from Germany and Aus.
ria pledges that no unarmed ships viii
Ne attacked without warning 1t is be.
ieved at Washington the Teutonic pow.
RS readily would give such pledges. Of
cials did not seem inclined to doubt
hat such pledges would be given in good
aith and that together with assurances
lready given, the lives of non combat
nts on unarmed ships would be safe in
he future
Prospects of a warning to American
itizens to remain off vessels that are
rmed doomed large at Washington Sat
rday. One high official expressed the
elief that Congress would be called on
, take some action leading to that end.
fiicials of the state department also are
what effect its determination
J to policy viii have on American naval
olicy and operations in the event this
overnment should be engaged in war
he question has been discussed with
wal officials and probably will have an
nportant bearing on the final decision.