The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-02-24
L. $. GOVERNMENT
DEMANDS THAT
Warfare in the Future Shall BE Con-
Quoted in Accordance With Es'
tablished Principles Of In
ternational Law.

Washington, Feb. 1s.-Thc United
states, in its submarine controversy
with Germany will accept nothing
short Of full and complete agree.
mCnt covering all the points for
which it has contcndcd as to assn.
RANGES that the warfare in the future
will be conducted in accordance with
established principle, Of international
law.
I'm announcing that fact Secretary
Lansing let It be known that the
state department considers Germany
intention Of sinking without warning
after February 20 all armed mcr.
chant ships Of the enemy countries
to be- inconsistent with the assurances
previously given this government.
The tentative communication dc
signed to end the Lusitauia case will
not Dc formally accepted until such
assurances are given, although the
communication insofar ms it relate,
tn the Iusitauia itself, are acceptable.
The state department considers
that the Austro-ITungariau mcmoran.
da i'm regard to armed merchant ships
ls not consistent with the assurances
given 10y that government in the cor
rcSpoudcncc over the sinking NJ the
Aucona. Consequently the settlement
of the Ancona probably will be with
held until Austria gives similar as
,urauccs to those now requested 10y
the United States from Germany.
Secretary Lansing saw Count Won
RcruStorr I'm conference and inform.
al him that the United States desires
Germany 10 modify her declaration as
10 armed merchant ships.
During the day Count Won Bern.
-turT sent a long cahlcgram to his
government explaining the position
and the requests Of this government.
II Is understood that he explained
that the United States wanted Ia
know particularly whether the assn.
rance, previously given in the LuSi-
tania and the Arabic cases are still in
force.
Last night it was stated cmphati-
cally I'm Tcutonic circles that the Der,
lin foreign office would not modify
it, declaration ~ intention to sink
armed merchant ships or inform the
United states that previous assn
RANGES still were binding, unless Great
Britain should give assurances Of
some kind that n submarine which
warns a British steamship, armed os-
tcrsihly for defensive purposes, would
not be fired upon.
It was declared at the state depart
mcnt that at no time had suggestions
been made to the German government
which would have led It 10 issue its
latest memorandum. This answered
statement, made by the German Off.
cials that the American memorandum
To- the entente allies suggesting mo
dus ylvcndi for the disarming Of mcr,
chant ships was the direct cause "
Germany issuing her decision.
The state department is carefully
viewing from various angles the as
~urauccs given in the early days Of
the war 10y Great Britain to the Of
feet that the guns on her merchant
ships would be used only for dcfcn-
,iyc purposes. 1t was admitted that
the department thns in Its possession
information charging that since the
assurances were given certain armed
British merchantmen have attacked
German submarines. The Information
C'mc through German sources, ana is
not regarded as being conclusive.
Officials arc now awaiting the re-
ccopt Of what Germany alleges to he
Il copy Of secret instructions given
10y the British government to the
commanders Of merchant ships. This
document and others appended to the
text Of the German declaration have