Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-09

consumption abroad as we'll as at home.
Coming either from tine State Depart
nent or the White House. II is intended
the statement shall answer. in n way, al
legged propaganda from official German
sources.
BERNSTORFF GAVE OUT NEWS.
A factor in the decision to Issue the
statement was the action Of German Am
bassador Bernstorff yesterday in giving
to the press the complete copies Of the
German memorandum on the U-boat cam
paign.
Following the recently strained personal
relations between Secretary Lansing and
Bernstorf, the ENJOYS act ocCasoned un-
disguised surprise. OfTicials declared this
memorandum was the written and official
documentary elimination Of past conf
Dental negotiations between Lansing and
Bernstorff. Some officials indicated Bern
storff's action might be considered
breach of diplomatic etiquette Deter
mination OF Administration officials to is
sue the statement followed publication of
the Teutonic memorandum.
Another fact influencing the decision to
issue the statement was the wording of
the German memorandum. which, IT was
said, could be construed as direct APP
peal to American popular opinion, ad
dressed in fact to the American people.
The last paragraph of the memorandum
read:
1.-THE Imperial Government feels conf.
dent that the people of the United States,
In spite of difficulties put in the way by
our enemies, appreciate the German view
point as laid down above"
All past German notes, in accordance
with Diplomatic etiquette, have made no
reference to "the American people" but,
as prescribed by the code, referred merely
to "the Government or the United States"
Never, officials declared, has any dlplo.
matte note made such direct and uncon-
cealed appeal to popular sentiment.
The forthcoming Administration state
ment, 1t was learned today. will answer
this appeal, combat the pro.German pub
licity propaganda and declare why the Ad-
ministration believes the least concession
toward breaking down established inter.
national law would be the wedge for fur.
hher breaches in the world code.
WILL NOT WARN CITIZENS.
Secretary Lansing today reiterated en-
phatically that mo warning will he is
sued" to keep Americans off merchant
y. men. In a discussion OF the difference be-
tween merchantmen that are armed for
defense and those extensively armed, how
ever, it was admitted that should the
armament on commerce ship which
enters an American port be obviously for
OHenslNe use suCn n snip VIII be claSSed
by the department as an auxiliary cruiser
and be ordered to leave within "a hours or
intern. This, in effect would constitute
the only warning that viii ever be issued.
1t was explained at the State Depart
ment that every ship carrying guns into
an American port will he examined by
port officials, not only to determine this
question OF offensive and defensive arma-
ment, but also for any Admiralty "in-
structions" under which the ship COM
mander is acting.
Meanwhile the note explaining that no
British vessels in the Atlantic trade, eN-
cepting those plying to and from Mediter-
ranean ports, will be armed is expected
shortly TO be handed to Secretary Lans-
ing by the British Ambassador Officials
hope that IL will be so framed that it
can be used as an entering wedge for the
renewal of the American attempt to ar
range a modus vivendi on the entire sub
marine question.
Incidentally officials pointed out today
that the matters in dispute with Great
Britain were fully serious, in so far as
the charge of ruthless violation of inter-
national law was concerned, as are those
with Germany. The Anglo-FrenCh answer
10 the American mails protest is on its
way TO Washington. II specifically re-
fuses to accept the American view that
The Hague convention permitted all mail
--belligerent as well as neutral-the right
OF passage to its destination unmolested