The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-22
viii Probably Ask / his Coun-
try to Require Merchantmen
to Obey Law
MUST SUBMIT TO
VISIT AND SEARCH
Discussion May Hark [ ack to
Lansing 1uggestion of Cen
eral Disarmament OF All
Merchant Ships

Washington, April 2I.--There
were iniimat ons today that Ger
many will reply 10 the American
demand for abandonment OF
l,t.,At mcthods of submarine
Mar.urc by making counter pro
pOSals.
ne chief contention which. 1t
1, understood. German Is pre-
pared TO set forth, Is that Is sub
mar mes are TO be compelled to
conform to international law,
merchantmen also shall bc re-
quite,d 10 do the same thing
his means that il submarines
must conform TO rules OF visit and
~ rcit, mere @ntnien must sub
NIT Ia being visited and searched
without using guns for resistance.
Germany'S Probable Reply.
\ forecast of Germany's prob
able reply, - predicted today, Is
as follows:
First. Inc German government
viii state that it realizes sub
marine warfare should he con-
Quoted according 10 the rules Of
International law, which provide
That merchG ntIuen and liners
must he visited and searched and
The .z:fets of pas engcrs and crews
provided for.
second. Germany will as sert
thet these principles have been
carried ont in the actual legal
conduct of submarine warfare In
the Mediterranean zone of opera
thlns.
third. That Germany ma nifeSt-
~ - entitled 10 seek from the
United S:atc, reciprocal guar
antees, to he obtained Ay the
United States as spokesman for
Ills neutral powers and others,
which shall define and govern
the movements and actions and
ri2ht> Of msrp hautmen.
Fourth. That Germany is will
irE 10 enter INTO nlOdus Siyendi
with the United states, In re-
sleouse TO lis note, providing and
on The condition that nil nterch-
antInen shall operate and ply as
merchantmen, and that they shall
obey the restrictions placed upon
them 10y International law.
Counter Proposals Net tgroca bic.
High state Department authorize
a "a today th2t thc United State
,onld riot entertain such counter pre-
,osais
They said the idea that II suhma
-tNes are compelled TO visit and scare
nerchaatment should not be Arme,
5 a reasona Bile. but not q legal proI
,sition
- merehea. snip is pr~a,el
,wued vessel. State Departmer
.nthorLtY said, While proceeding o
IS mission i; is n:danger OF, attach
t has a rieEt.,o carry guns.
II IS known, however. and is
ma tel or. record in docum entar
oc>a.. that Germany has placed he
ore the STATE Department what
lecldrcs, is proof that armed BIRTHS
vessels are under orders c
nc British admiralty to use arma
mont Extensively against submarine
nd thus have ceased their main as
rect Ia be private property
Has Not Replied.
The State Department, when nd
Used Of these secret orders to Bri,
81 'nerchantmen. asked Great Brit
in 10 inform this government wheth
y the German allegations were true
: was said Mt the department toda
hat Great Britain. had not reptile
q this inquiry.
IT has been stated that II was tn
Legation by Germany that these or
ers We're In existence that induce
he United States. I'm the lansing pro
Iossls ~ January f3. TO strive 70
y understanding that would hrIn
bout the 6isarming Of merehantme
n return fn- pledges from German
ot to sink Ungrmed vessels
In preparing for conditional re
,ly 10 the American demands II I
Understood GERMANY takes the posi-
ion that IL the United States though
he matter ~ sufTicie.t iruportence I
Justify the lansing proposals for III
lights Of both saSn1arlnes and mer
hantme", :c"rnany H. Justified il
ending conditional rcp'y n IN
United STATE r. Sf9tinr -. &, ieTlcai
Must abandon T'niawrul Acts.
State Department officials repeate,
ndaN that no proposals OF ANY char
cter Will he received from German
\ reply TO the American uttiynatun
ntil Germany has first decia red no
My that il into nds to abandon pres
Mt methods of submarine warfare. hll
Rat il has in fact, ALREADY ablndore,
hem
To get around this point. II Is said
;ermany Is preparing to make a repl
,hich viii concede tentatively the pre-
ositions of this government and We
i'd to IL a now matter for discussion
Yhich. In the Germany view. neitbe
he state Department nor Congress
,ouId refuse to consider.
The Germany EoFcrnr'"nt 49, 90
in giving consideration 4
his plan or counter propose. ~ -,
vision In Congress on the ormc,
question after the re
ection by the allies OF tho LANSING