New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-15
Silence as PeriIOuS as
Speech, Officials
Admit.
TEUTONS MAY
DELAY ATTACK
Would Grant Americas
Request for Postpone
ment of New Decree.


Washington, Feb. 1i.-The qucs-
tion before the State Department in
connection with the German notice
that after March / all armed enemy
merchantmen will be treated as war
ships and sunk without warning is
not how the issue will be met. but
tcw it can be eyadcd. Secretary
Lansing said to-day it was possible
that no action would be taken on
Germany's warning unless Congress
should decide TO do something.
in other words. unless Congress
takes the responsibility off President
Wilson's shoulders by Withdrawing
protection from American citizens
who travel Oh armed ships. the Presi-
dent may let the matter drift along,
with the exact position of this goy-
crnment underlined, until the loss of
American lives makes IL Imperative
for the United States to declare it.
self.
The German memorandum ls cir
cular note 10 al. ncutrals, advising
them Of the German governments
position on the question Of arminG
merchant vessels. Technically, there.
fore. it calls for no reply.
Like War Zone Decree.
Germany's war zone decree OF 4
year ago, however, was precisely tho
same sort of document II need not
have been answered, but President
Wilson seized the opportunity TO
send the "strict accountability" note,
warning Germany that if the threats
in the war zone decree were carried
out the United States would take
any steps it might deem necessary TO
safeguard American lives and prop
erty and to secure 70 American citi-
zens the full enjoyment Of their
acknowledged rights on the high
seas"
If. therefore. the present German
threat is met with silence, it may
easily be interpreted by Germany az
an acquiescence in the doctrine thai
arms make a ship combataot. For
this reason, it is believed, silencc on
President Wilson's part may be as
dangerous as speech.
Secretary Lansing was advised in.
formally to-day that Germany mighs
consent 10 postpone tho beginning -
her new campaign n this govornment
asked u. and Secretary Lansing inil-
mated that delay might be asked for.
II was expressly stated, however, that
the action Of this government ON tho
German decree would not De dependent
in any way on the proposals recently
made 20 the Entente Powers for a
modus vivendi, under the terms Of
which the Allies would remove tho
guns from their merchant vessels.
Not To Blend the Issues.
The State Department holds that IS
Germany has not lecn approached Off
cially on the modus yIycndi proposals,
there would be no warrant for confus-
ing the tao issues.
Practically however. the two src inc
separabe. and this is Acknowledged
privately by State Department officials.
lD the American note TO tho Allies Il
was stated that it twas reasonable .
believe that the introduction Of SUBJ
marines into naval warfare neccssi-
tated a change in the Interpretation %
the international custom permitting
the srming Of merchant vessels.
Furthermore, while the note was not
handed 70 the Gcrmanic Powers, it is
admitted that the question had been
discussed with them even before ihs
Entente governments had been sp-
preached on the subject, and that the
state Department proceeded With rs
plan Tor humdhlIhS 9""'""' '''
fare with full knowledge that II would
be acceptable to Germany.
Il is therefore patent that IN maxim;
the proposals 70 Great Britain. Trance
and Italy President Wilson was aware
,ha, he wss playing Germany's game.
He knew AZ that time, also, that Demo-
cratic Leaders in Congress would en-
deayor 20 take the burden of the state
Department by forcing through a reso-
luton scuttlng the right Of Americans
20 travel on merchant vessels, regard
less Of armament. What Dee did not
expect wa that Germany would m.
forth the new submarine decree be-
tore the ground had been prepared
Germany haste 10 take aivantsgs
Of the Presidents compluisancc, there