New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-11
Reply to Express Appre-
citation of This COuntry'S
Humane Motives.
WILL NOT CHANGE
INTERNATIONAL LAW
La Toilette Attacks Wilson s
"Secrct Diplomacy in For
cign Affairs.

Washington, March 10. The Entente
Allies have agreed to inform the United
States that they cannot accept the pro-
posal in Secretary Lansing's recent
circular memorandum that modus
vivcndi be entered into for the dis
armament Of bclligercnt owned NOR
chant ships Conferences between the
Allies on this subject have been ended
and formal replies 20 the American
suggestion are expected soon.
Advices TO the State Department
from the embassies at London, Paris
and Rome some time ago made II APP
parent that the disarmament plan had
met with no favor, and the department
has been proceeding on the assumption
that it would be rejected. The United
States does not question the right
under international law Of merchant
men to arm for defence.
Disarmament by agreement was pro
posed purely as a humanitarian ex-
pedient on account of the development
of submarine warfare. Without such
an agreement the law stands as it
always has, and il was In recognition
of this principle that the United States
informed Germany that her announced
intention of sinking armed merchant
ships without warning was inconsistent
with assurances previously given in
the Lusitania and Arabic cases.
Appreciate High Motives.
In their replies, which it is under
stood will be couched in the friendliest
terms. the Allies viii express apprecia-
tor of the high motives which moved
tns United States government in the
interest Of humanity to endeavOr TO
remove the dangers to the lives Of
non-combatants. But they will express
the view that the proposition TO volun-
tar.ly surrender the right of a merchant
ship 10 carry arms for her own defence
would really amount TO change in
the principle of international law it.
SELF instead Of being, as viewed by
the State Department, merely change
in the application OF the law or Of the
rales framed under the law.
Attention viii be directed, also. TO
the fact that one of the cardinal prin-
cples Of international law is that no
change shall be made in the law itself
as applied to warfare during the
progress Of hostilities.
Senator - Toilette in a speech TO
the Senate to-day defended the power
OF Congress 70 warn citizens from bel
ligeNent ships, and challenged the right
OF the President to prevent Congress
sional action in foreign relations.
Secret Diplomacy Assaiied.
lie defended the Administration for
having kept out OF the European war
but attacked the power claimed by the
President 10 administer the country s
foreign affairs by secret diplomacy"
'The occupation of Vera Cruz" he
said. "had IL been against any great
power instead of a poor, weak, bank
rupt nation, would have involved a war
the cost and sacrifice and suffering OF
which NDu4Q nave uttN ptR OuQ Lhe
Imagination Of man TO portray.
an view of this, Congress was
hound TO take action to express It's
views and to offer counsel which might
avert pending disaster.
"In my opinion we have fallen short
q our duty. rather than exceeded IL
Presiden: Wilson's course. so far as
can discover, was unprecedented in de-
handing that Congress keep silent in
al. that pertains 10 foreign affairs
The only justification was that tho
warning resolutions in some way not
obvious 70 Congress, might paralyzC
the negotiations then under way. Ever
il this were true, the President nigh
have appealed to Congress TO defer &C.
iion."
Senator Colt, Republican, spoke
against warning Americans of srmeC
merchant ships.