New Britain herald., 1916-02-29
U. s. WILL STAND FIRM AGAINST ATTACKS BEING
 MADE ON MERCHANTM
New German Note Laid Before President Cabinet but Alleged Order to British Cd tains to Sink SubmerSibleS is Missing. SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN SCHEDULED
 TO OPEN AT MIDNIGHT TONIC

Cabinet Members Mum Reg
 Conference Today Although Announced That No EfIoraM
 Made to Arrive at Decision IF
 Arrival of Documents From M
 lin, Delayed By War. x
 Washington, Feb. 29.-GerrN latest communication on su0rR warfare was discussed in detail K days cabinet meeting and at < arate conference between Pre# Wilson and Secretary Lansing, \ conclusion was reached. 1t wfa cided to await data now on th8 from Berlin, regarding instrucfioa legged to have been issued by theA ish admiralty to merchant cal for attacks on submarines.
 Cabinet members carefully aY| questions on whether Germany's 's| tion as outlined by Count Won storff in a note to Secretary I4a yesterday was acceptable to the A ican government. It was said merely the facts were laid befol' cabinet without any effort being to arrive at a decision.
 It was reiterated, however, tha United States would continue to firmly upon it's position that at should not be made on merchan unarmed or armed for defensive poses, and would hold German, countable if that position is no served. The chief danger was by officials to lie in a possible a on ship carrying Americans.
 The note reiterates assurances in the Lusitania case, declares those assurances have not been l fled by the announced intentie treat armed merchant ships of enemy as auxiliary cruisers after night tonight and attempts to ii the new policy by presenting evil and assertions designed to prove Great Britain has instructed her. chantmen to use their armamen attack in violation of assurl given the United States.
 British Instructions Missinl
 Official indications of what att the United States may take rel ing the note were expected to f the cabinet meeting. However, is considered by Secretary Lal as the all-important element in situation, as it now stands, is a of the so-called British instruc to shipmasters to hunt for sul rines, which have not arrived Berlin, where they were handed Ambassador Gerard. Pending receipt and a subsequent dec regarding the attitude of the ul States, the state department is pared to consider any overt act { nitted by the Teutonic subma commanders in the light of facts. The department, it was would not act upon the case of American who sustained injl aboard a vessel which it could be established carried guns offensive purposes.
 England Will Deny Charges.
 It was indicated in British di matic circles that the allegation Germany would be flatly denied. was said that British masters lot been instructed to hunt that they had been tolC Lvoid the craft and that only in e' ,f a submarine approaching W ,ut warning were the shippers horized to use their guns.
 The state department is underst O feel that the possibility of dtfti' ies arising in the near future a esult of the new German and A rian policy is more or less rem' Officials believe that commanders he undersea boats will take partl ar care not to attack without wa ng armed merchant vessels UT which there may be Americans.
 Lansing Makes Statement.
 Secretary, Lansing took with ! 0 the White House d pouch und tood to contain the German me i,andum and other papers relat , '. the case.
 Later he issued this statement: ewl of the publication this mo Ig of what purports to be the VI f the. state department on tho co Iunication received yesterday fir le German ambassador, 1 wish " that the contents of the co Lunication have not been made pt c by me and that any statement , the views of the state depactm l the communication are absolut 
 1T have made no comment and ressed no opinion in regard tp atter."
 It was indicated in we'll inform larters that the president would st on a strict interpretation of lies of international law as applyi Germany's new submarine warfa Information forwarded from Der lr,,Grting to contain proof that { ritish admiralty had instructed ca in~ If armed merchant ships t1 ok submarines had not arrived, N