New Britain herald., 1916-02-17
LUSITANIA NOTE
 SATISFIES ]. 5.
Continued From First Page.)

intention to sink armed merchantmen apparently is regarded as having de- stroyed that assurance, and 1t is deemed useless to try to adjust a past issue while the future is left open with the almost certain assurance of new incidents arising that may lead to the most serious results.
 Not Sufficiently Comprehensive.
 Officials fear that a closer study of the Lusitania agreement may dis close that it is not sufficiently com- prehensive to embody the guarantees required for the future. They are quite certain that it cannot qualify amend or replace the Austro- German notice; a specific assurance on that point would have to be given by Ger many and later perhaps by Austria
 The recent American circular note to the entente powers proposing dis armament of merchant ships is not re- garded as in any way involving an abandonment by the United States of it's contention that the belligerents should adhere to existing principles of international law in submarine war fare. It was issued in pursuance of a design to induce both sides to amelior- ate the hardships of such warfare and prevent the loss of innocent lives. Its rejection would simply have the effect to leave standing and in full force the principles of international law and among others that which permits bel ligerent merchant ships to carry de- fensive armament.
 American officials contend that at no time has the United States limited the claim to exemption to unarmed ships. It is true that at one place in the Lusitania correspondence the point was made by the United States that the ship was unarmed. But that was only to meet the German asser- tion that the Lusitania had mounted guns when she left New York.
 Tirpitz Element Working.
 The internal political situation in Germany is regarded here as making the situation grave because the Von Tirpitz element is understood to be re- asserting itself with considerable ef- feet and the subject requires delicate handling because an upset of the Won Bethmann-H -HOllweg administration would be regarded as unfavorable in it's effect.
 Germany, it was pointed out, has made no declarations that it's pledges in the Lusitania and the Arabic cases did not apply to armed ships. On the contrary, this government on Novem- Austrian Notice Received Washington, Feb. 1.-The Austrian notice to treat armed belligerent merchant ships as subject to attack without warning was made public to- day by the state department. It is dated Feb. 10 and is in line with tho German declaration on the sams subject already published
 Der 7, 1915, in a note to the German government asserted the right of mer. chant ships to arm for defensive pur- poses, although it called attention to the fact that Great Britain had agreed not to arm her merchant ships enter American waters.
 Warning Against Break.
 London, Feb. 17, 12:16 D. m.-An Amsterdam despatch to the Exchange Telegraph Co.,, says that the manager of one of the greatest German ship ping companies, in an interview ill the Bremen Tageblatt, expresses a most pessimistic opinion concerning the effects of possible breach of relations between Germany and the United States. This skipper, who, the deSpatcn says, IS DeleVed to be Albert Ballin, director general of the Ham, burg-American Steamship Co.,, is quoted as follows
 "A breach of Germany's relations with America would have most serious effect. All Americas money and munitions would be at the dis posa1 of the entente allies. We should have to take over the feeding of the Belgians, and Americas at titude probably would induce other neutrals to attack us. All our ships would finally be interned in American ports. This would represent taking away enormous wealth from us.
 Plight Most Difficult.
 "Our plight would be most difficult. When the war is over Germany will have to replenish her stocks of raw materials. Do not let us entertain any illusions with regard to England She will continue commercial war fare long after military operations are over She will take away all our trade with South Africa and Aus tralia and it will take years for our passenger service to reach a condi- ton anything like that which exist ed before the war;