Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-20
KAISER ASKS WHAT
is UNARMED SHIP
Berlin Government Will Seek Assur-
ances It's Submarines Will Not
Be Attacked by Liners.
.. s. MAKES FORMAL STATEMENT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1o.-Ger-
many's response to the latest re-
quest OF the United States for as
surances that submarine warfare
will be conducted in accordance with
established principles of interna-
tional law is expected here to be a
flat statement that assurances previ-
ously given in the Lusitania and
Arabic cases had to do only with
unarmed vessels, and that the Ger
man government must feel certain
that its submarines which warn a
merchant ship will not be attacked.
Furthermore, the Berlin foreign Of
flee probably will ask the United
States for Its definition OF defensive
armament.
Indications of what the German
reply may be are understood to have
been given in informal conversations
between state department officials
AMI Teutonic diplomats since Ger
many and Austria announced their
intention of sinking all armed enemy
merchantmen after February 20.
U. :. Makes Statement.
The United states today made its first
formal declaration that 1t does not &C
cept as legal the announced intentions
Of the Teutonic powers when the state
department sent to diplomatic and con-
sular representatives abroad. for their
information, notification that this gov
eminent, considers that merchant ships
have a right to carry defensive arma-
ment. The dispatches contained excerpts
from newspaper articles setting forth the
position OF the United States. In this
connection It became known that the
Swedish government had instructed its
consular officers to advise all Swedish
subjects preparing TO embark on vessels
OF the entente allies Of the warnings
given by Germany and Austria.
II is considered certain that the ques-
ton OF defining defensive armament will
be the basis OF lengthy negotiations with
the central powers. beginning when the
reply Is received to the message outlining
the Views of the United States which
Count Won Bernstorff. the German am
bassador has sent his government. In
this dispatch the ambassador trans.
mitted at some length the views explained
TO him by Secretary Lansing. The
response is not expected before the last
OF next week
Consider writing Note.
1t was admitted at the State depart.
ment today that the question OF writing
a formal note on the subject of the con.
duct OF submarine warfare, after the com
plete German declaration and its APP
pendix have been received. was under
consideration. II is certain that Austris
also will be supplied with the views Of
the United States. although so far as car
be ascertained, no steps In this direction
have yet been taken.
Eleven days remain before German ant
Austrian submarine commanders will be
gin to put into effect their new instruc
lions. unless the date for tho opening o
the new campaign Is postponed. Will
the United States is said 10 not hav'
asked for a postponement. the German
ambassador Is believed to have called tn,
attention OF his government to the fac
that the complete appendix forming tn,
basis OF the German declaration had no
yet had time to reach the State depart
ment and for this reason a postponemen
would not be surprising.