New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
u. S. Demands Full
Compliance withLaw,
Asserts Lansing.
SAYS u. S. KNEW
OF BERLIN PLAN
Capital Believes Germany
Will Refuse to Modify
Instructions.
fFton IN. rrionns Bare.n !

Washington, FEB. lI.-UnaDle ~
reconcile Germany's new U-Doat
threat against armed merchantmen
with the Lusitania proposals. Seore-
tary Lansing said to-day that the
United States would accept nothing
short Of a full and complete agl ec-
ment that warfare i'm the future
would be conducted in accordance
with the established principles Of in
ternational law.
In announcing that fact to-day
Secretary Lansing let it be known
that the State Department considers
Germany's declaration of its inten-
ton TO sink without warning after
February 29 all armed merchant
ships of the Entente Allies to be IN
consistent with the assurances pre-
viously given this government by the
Berlin Foreign Office.
The tentative communication de-
signed to end the Lusitania ease.
still IN the possession Of Secretary
Lansing, will not be formally ac-
cepted until such assurances regard
ing the future are given. although
the communication, in so far as it re-
lates 10 the Lusitania itself, is ac-
ceptable.
State Department officials also
consider that the Austro-Hungarian
memorandum regarding armed chips
IS not in accord with the assurances
given by the government in the ne
gotiations over the sinking Of ths
Italian steamship Ancona. Conse-
quently final settlement of the An
coma case, once postponed because OF
the doubt regarding the circum-
stances Of the sinking of the British
steamship Persia, probably will 10
withheld until Austria gives similar
assurances to those now requested
from Germany.
Wilson Warned Of Threat.
When President Wilson sent his note
to the Entente threatening TO declare
armed vessels ships of war if a modus
vivendi were not arranged. he had con-
fidential information that Germany was
preparing TO issue her new submarine
decree.
This information was obtained by
The Tribune to-day from an unques-
tiorable source. and puts the Lusitania
case and the relations between this
country and the belligerents in an en-
tirely new light.
Officials say the President, perceiv-
ing the dangers inherent in fresh Ger
man attacks on armed vessels without
warning. sent the modus vivendi pro-
possls in the hope that the Allies would
accept and relieve this government OF
possible embarrassment later. In doing
this President Wilson realized that he
was preparing the way for an acquies-
cence in the new German policy by
neutrals, thus assuring success in the
new submarine operations.
The views of the United States were
explained VI detail to-day by Secretary
Lansing 20 Count Won Bernstorff. the
German Amba sador. The ambasssdo
was informed, it was indicated at the
State Department. that the United
States desires the German declaration
regarding armed merchant ships be
modified.
Later in the day the ambassador sent
tong dispatch to his government ex-
planning the position and requirements
Of tine United States. II was under
stood that the ambassador informed
his government that the United States
wanted particularly to know whether
the assurances previously given in the
Lusitania and the Arabic cases still
were in force.
Berlin Unwilling to Yield.
Tonight it was stated emphstically
.n Teutonic diplomatic circles that the
Berlin Foreign Office would not modEy
the declaration Of intention to sink
armed ships or inform the United
States the previous assurances still
were binding unless Great Britain
should give assurances OF some kind
that submarine which warns a Brit
ism steamship. armed ostensibly for de-
feasiye purposes, would not be tired
upon.
In this connection il was explained
ai the State Department that the
United States considers unarmed mer-
- L :.