New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-15

The result IS that Germany has sue
cccdcd in putting ir. Wilson in an IN.
comfortable position. lie has paid for
the Lusitanis victory. but he has not
cot IL. On the other hand. he is faced
with the virtual certainty Of trouble
from other quarters.
Might Be Called Uuneutrah
Should this government approve o.
tho position Of tho Teutonic allies II IS
believed diplomatic controversies I'M
uodiatclv would result. and it might
even be charged that the United states
had committed sn unneutral act, OF
benefit 20 tho enemies Of the Entente.
On tho other hand. tho Central Pow
ors. II is believed. might be ofended
should the State Department cri'leise
adversely their memoranda. which were
generally regarded 10 be develop
nent OF The American memorandum
.ugcesting the disarming Of merchant
men. This contained an intimation
that the United States itself. because
Of the changed conditions Of warfare
On the seas, might decide that armed
merchantmen entering American
waters we're auxiliary cruisers, and
therefore subject TO internment.
Nv allowing future developments 70
dofcrriro tile stand Of the United
States. y was pointed out. all difhculty
could be avoided az this time. w
course. it is realized that should an
armed ship with an American on boafo
he sunk and the government owning
The submarine should announce II con,
tidered the commander was JuslNe'
because the vessel was IN Ies!ity a
naval auxiliary, the position OF TINS
government would have 10 be Defined.
from high Official quarters to-day
came the intimation that the memo
randa received from the German ana
Austrian governments are considered
A. themselves p sufficient warning TO
Americans 10 refrain from engaging
massage on merchant ships Of the class
of vessels affected by the order.
From one quarter came an lndlca-
zion that officials may call the atten-
zion az Americans 10 the orders OF the
Contra, Powers when they secure pass
ports for travel aOroao. JUS 20" the
attention Of Americans IN Europe
could be brought 20 the order mas not
been determined
II is pointed out that the danger o.
American travelling from the United
States in British and French shlps
would in any event be slight, shlps o.
those nationalities entering American
waters not being armed. They. there
fore, are immune from the new pro
cramme Of the Central Powers. and
their safety IS guaranteed by assur-
hrces previously given.
Lansing Gets Austrian Note.
Austria's formal notification Of hc-
intention 20 sink without warning
armed merchant ships after March l
was received to-day b. the State De
rartment. l. is substantially the same
ss that received from Germany. Both
memoranda probably will be brought
90 the attention Of the Cabinet to-mor-
VOW.
Secretary Lansing had read the Ger
man memoranda carefully, he SAID, an
found u agreed with the published de
scription contained IN recent news dis
patches from Berlin.
The State Department, il is said, Will
continue its efforts 20 have the Entente
Allies agree 10 the suggestions con-
tanned IN its memorandum suggesting
tho disarming OF merchant ships.
Various high officials believe that the
Allies finally will agree to adopt the
suggestions Of the United States.
State Department officials are de
scribed as fully realizing that it is
difficult to attempt TO change laws dur
ing the course OF the war without the
consent of all the parties affected 1t
Vas for precisely this reason that the
Department. believing that the reguls
,ions IN regard TO the conduct Of naval
warfare under prevailing conditions
rccded revising, submitted its memo
iandum.