The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-03
MARINA CASE WON'T
Be ADJUSTED SOON
Secretary Lansing Leaves Washington
and WIN Not Return Until After
Election.
POLICIES OF NATIONS DIFFER.
But United States Adheres TO Idea
That Merchant Ship Has Right to
Carry Light Defensive Armament.
Holland Thinks Otherwise.

Washington. Nov. 2.-Secret Y
Lansing announced today that the
state Departments decwion in the
Marin& case would not be cached be-
fore Novem Der Z. lie left Washing
ton tonight for his home. at Water
town. y. Y, to remain until after the
election.
The departments decision will be
determined by three facts now under
investi CATION:
/. Whether the ship was torpedoed
without warning and without pro-
vision being made for the safety of
passengers and crew If the Marina was
a peaceablc merchantmen.
2. Whether the Marina was armed
extensively.
3. Whether she had previously been
in admiralty service. which finding
would create presumption against
her peaceab bic character.
Secretary Lansing admitted that It
Is a moot question whether Germany's
promise to the United States relating
to submarine warfare applied to ves-
sells carrying guns.
The United States holds that mer-
chant vessels have the right to arm
for defense, but no conclusion regard
ing the subject ever was reached with
Germany, who upholds a different
policy. The question was raised in the
fusitania case. but dropped when 1t
was proved that the Lusitania carried
TO armament.
No Question as to L. 8. Policy.
When Germany's pledge in the set
tlement of the Sussex case was given,
the United States considered 1t as COW
ering armed merchantmen as we'll as
unarmed liners. and there never has
been any question about the Ameri-
can policy that merchant ships have
the right to be armed. If it is proved
that the Marina was armed, the dis
Cussion will arise anew between the
two governments, and may delay con-
siderably n final decision.
The German government in August.
1914, prepared a memorandum on the
subject of armed merchantmen, TAX
ing the following position, which has
been adhered to:
The purpose of the artilieristic ar
mament of the British merchantmen
/ Is armed resistance against the Ger
man cruisers. Sunch a resistance is
contrary to international law. because
a merchantmen is not permitted mill
, tary defense against a man-of-war
such action would entitle the man Of
war to sing the merchantmen with
her crew and passengers"
Policies Differ.
{ The policies Of nations differ on this
subject. Holland, during the present
war, has taken stand contrary to
that of the United States. A memoran-
dun just published in the Dutch
Orange Book says of armed merchant
men: AS being armed they are able
! to commit In case of necessity acts OF
war, the government has considered
4 itself obliged to classify these ships
IN the category of ships assimilated te
warships.
therefore, when the. British gov
eminent raised the question Of admit
ting armed merchantmen in Dutch
ports, the government let 1t be known
/ that for motives defined above, II
would not admit such vessels except
/ in the same cases where ships of wal
are admitted conforming to the declar-
alton of neutrality. that is by reason
of disability OF stress of weather.
/ Mr.. Lansing said today that this
government treats each case Of Ar
armed ship separately because of the
! difficulty of determining when an mr.
mament is offensive or defensive