The sun., 1916-12-09
MISUNDERSTANDING
WARNING TO KAISER
Strong Note to Berlin Govern
mcnt on the U-BOat Pledge
in Prospect.
ARABIA CASE IN POINT
r. $. Contends Vessels Status
Must Be Presumed as
Peaceable.

w,sHiNGroN. Dec. S.-President vii.
son is seriously considering the despatch
O. n warning note TO Germany with ref
srencc TO the pledge which the German
Government has made to the United
States concerning methods Of submarine
warfare. This became known tonight
following the Cabinet meeting.
Secretary Lansing declined, as usual.
20 make any comment, but the statemer,
|. made autharltatively that the situa.
ton has now reached n stage where It
may he necessary for this Government to
reach an understanding with Berlin
over the Interpretation which German
subarine commanders are giving to tha
American pledge.
As stated in THE SUN to-day, the Ger.
man note with reference to the sinking
Of the passenger steamer Arabia Is re-
garded AS involving a direct issue over
the rights OF an armed merchantmen on
the high seas. II was aid at the State
Department that the United States In
ssts and will insist that the status OF
vessels encountered by a warship on the
h!gh seas must be presumed to be that
OF a peaceable merchantmen until cor
" y b'VN WV
Secretary Lansing has insisted that
Germany had no right under lnterns-
tioual law TO presume that such a YES
sci was an auxiliary warship and to act
on that presumption. And Mr.. Lansing
declared significantly to-day that the
position OF the United States on thu.
submarine issue had not changed since
the time of the Sussex attack.
officials of the State Department said
that the whole submarine issue as af-
f.cted by Germany's Interpretation Of
the pledge might be dealt with In one
communication from his Government.
30 far no definite decision has been
reached, II is said. but the original idea
OF this Government to treat each ca-
separately has been apparently aban.
doned because Of the increasing serious.
ness OF the situation.
All reports which reached the State
Department to-day added to rather thar
decreased the concern of the Govern
ment. The status OF the situation does
not warrant undue excitement" accord
ing TO one Cabinet member. but It is
nevertheless rapidly assuming a dis
quoting aspect"
Secretary Lansing learned officially
to-day that the British steamer Marina,
which was SUM without warning and
wan Nv iOss u va AttiC iSht iNtts Wos
not requisitioned by the British Ad.
miralty nor was she under charter. and
that she was entitled to the immunities
Of a peaceful merchantmen. This dis
poses OF the German defence that the
vessel was understood to be an auxiliary
warship.
Count Won BernstorfY Is understood tc
bslieye that the Marina was formerly ir
the British Admiralty service. and thai
therefore the German submarine com
mander was justified In regarding her as
IN auxiliary warship. especially as Ger
many had never been informed that thu
vessel had again become an ordinary
merchantmen.
II IT is proved hat the Marina wa,
formerly In the Admiralty service ant
manned by a navy crew under orders Il
attack German naval craft the German
defence will be based on Secretar,
Lansine's own statement that "a vesse
engaged intermittently in ant
under q commission or orders OF It's gov
eminent imposing "A penalty. In pursuin,
and attacking enemy naval craft. pos
sesses a status tainted with a hostil'
purpose which 1t cannot throw aside o
assume at will"
It Is because this issue may be in
volved that the Marina case Is regarded
As less serious thai that Of the Arabia
In the latter case a passenger ship wit
women and children aboard was attacked
without warning. The case stands GU
as an apparent violation OF the Ameri
can pledge and considered In connection
with the other cases makes the Who'll
situation look more grave.
Both the President and Mr.. 1.ansina
are DESTROYS OF giving the German Gov
eminent every opportunity TO have a fa'
hearing in all cases involved. but tn
German explanations in the Marina an
Arabia cases are regarded az very weak
They are. In fact. very similar and al
most identical with the original explana
ton which Germany made after the Sus
sex a~ttack-namely that the submarin
commander by the paint on the vesse
'hc course she was taking. &C.. presume
shc mna a iranSnorf or An AUXILIARY Wal