The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-22
COUNTER PROPOSALS
tContinuod From First Page.)

fContinued From First Page.)
proposals, and the PRONUNCIATION Of the
new German submarine campaign
stirred the submarine debate In Con-
sgress
High State Department authorities
insisted today that the plan adopted
by the United States OF exacung
pledges from armed merchant vessels
leaving American ports is not in con-
flict with the position 1t has taken OF
recognizing the right of merchant YES
sells to arm for defense
Precautionary Measures.
The pledges obtained from the
French and Italian vessels leaving
American ports that guns would NOT
be used extensively against submarines
were described as precautionary
measure. If these armed vessels were
permitted to leave American ports and
then used guns for attack on SUD
marines. the United States might be
held liable for permitting the boats
ia leave port. AS a matter OF TACT II
r-as held. the United States could say
that no armed vessels should come INTO
it's ports. TO save it from liability
These pledges, 1t Is held, do not plnd
the United States as committed TO me
principle, because 1t is expressly snpu,
lated tnat eaCn case StdiiAS N4NA'
ls not TO form a precedent.
Ambassador Gerard informed the
state department today that he De
livered the American note to the 1er-
man foreign Office yesterday AFTER
noon at 4:30.
Secretary Lansing would not say
y,,hather Mr.. Gerard IN communicating
mis- had given any Information as 10
the state OF official or newspaper SEN
tInent after delivery Of the note or
as 20 the time when a reply may pc
expected.
Secretary Lansing would not say
how much time the United States will
give Germany 10 reply. The Presi-
dent demanded an Immediate dec
larati0n by Germany of its abandon
ment OF present methods of subma-
rine warfare. 1t has been intimated
that the arrival of the note at the
beginning Of the Easter holidays
which extend over Easter Monday
might delay a response from Berlin
with the added fact that the Kaiser
must be communicated with at the
front.
State Department officials said to-
day that tho United States could not
take time out" for any holiday pc
riod Germany does not suspend
fighting on these holidays, officials
said and need not suspend diplomatic
activities
Would Solve Situation.
It was reiterated today that II the
German government suggests extern
sion Of the Mediterranean war zone
pledges to the British war zone, and
lives up to them. a solution OF the
difficulty may be found without a
/ break In relations. The United States
understands tho Mediterranean pledg-
es 10 provide for full compliance with
/ international law, including visit and
search. in submarine operations,
against freight as we'll as passenger
vessels.
/ The State Department emphatically
. set forth tho doctrine today that any
pledges made by Germany must pro-
vide for visit OF merchantmen by sub
marines,
/ Germany will not be permitted to
substitute warning for visit and
search" Il was declared,
The State Department was advised
that the Norwegian ship Tergevtken,
/ which IT was announced yesterday was
sunk April Is off Lisbon harbor
struck a floating mine, This removed
possible cause for further trouble
over the submarine Issue. II was first
believed the vessel had been torpe-
doed.