Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-29
CONGRESS SUBSIDIES.
ATTEMPT To HAMPER
WILSON IS GIVEN Up
Leaders in House and Senate
Who Wanted to Pass Warn
ing Resolution Say "PubIiC-
ity Has Served Purpose"
by Associated Press.l

w ASftlNGIONB reb. GO.--EoSNA ONeAA ,
Lansing indicated today that the United
States is prepared under certain cir
cumstances to discuss with the German
government what may properly be re-
garded as defensive armament for mer-
chant ships. In no event, however, &C
cording to authoritative information to-
night, will the United States enter into
such negotiations unless it is assured
that the lives of American citizens
aboard ships armed for defense will
not be endangered during the discus
sion.
Only three days remain before Ger
man and Austrian submarine command
ers will be instructed to treat armed
merchant ships as war vessels. There
was no indication today that issuance
of the order, announced in formal noti-
hcation from the central powers for
February 20, would be postponed, al
though ii was admitted that postpone
ment would not come as a surprise.
Leaders in both houses of congress,
who for several days have agitated pas
sage of a resolution warning Americans
not to travel on armed ships, seemed
convinced tonight that no such measure
ator Gore, who has such a resolution
pending, said that while he still favor
ed a warning, he believed the objects
sought by his resolution already had
been accomplished through public dis
cuSSion. Representative McLemore,
whose warning resolution in the house
has been kept from coming up by adj
ministration leaders, said he was con-
tent to wait until the president and
Secretary Lansing had opportunity to
try out their policy of asserting deter
minedly the right Of travel on armed
ships.
AWAIT BERLIN DISCLOSURES.
Administration officials were still
awaiting the receipt of the appendices
to the latest German momorandum on
the subject, which contain what is al
legged to be a copy Of confidential in
structions given to British sea captains.
If this document contains what the Ger
man government claims, it is said to be
probable that inquiries may be address,
ed to Great Britain on the subject. The
British government sometime ago as
sured the United States that it's mer-
chant ships would not operate offensive
ly.
Germany, in its memorandum, gives
as one of the cardinal reasons for it's
determination to sink armed merchant
ships of her enemies without warning
the fact that German submarines have
been fired upon repeatedly by merchant
men which apparently were engaged in
peaceful pursuits of commerce.
A high official of the state depart
ment, questioned about this contention,
gave it as his opinion that there might,
in certain cases, be justification for one
belligerent committing acts in retalia-
10, fVnfa 10 yaT
by an enemy. The depart
ment will not make any decision in this
connection until ii has had opportunity
to carefully inspect the appendices to
the German memorandum.
1t also was indicated at the state de-
partment today that Germany by recent
acts had shown a disposition to change
her original position in regard to the
right of merchant ships to carry de-
fensive armament. Originally the
Berlin government denied that it was
legal for merchant ships to arm at all.
Now some officials here consider that
Germany appears willing to admit that
is legal if purely defensive.
In other words, IL is believed that the
German government actually is at
tempting to change the rules rather than
the law.
SOME REGULATION LIKELY.
Should the subject be opened up for
discussion the state department may,
II was said, be willing to admit that
there should be some regulation regard
ing the size and use of defensive arma-
ment supplementary to the instructions
to port authorities issued September g.
1915. which permit merchant ships to
clear from American ports provided
they are carrying no more than two
cd Oft Of than six
inch caliber. As matter of fact no
merchant ships ever have come into
American waters with the maximum or
armament provided for. Indications
that this question would be opened for
discussion resulted from publication of
confidential advices from Berlin which
forecast a request from Germany to
the United States to define defensive
armament
State department officials were en-
phatic in saying that while additional
limitations might be placed upon the
defensive armament that may be car
ried such action could not be extended
TO require the complete exclusion or
armament. That would be equivalent,
If is held, to a change. of internation9l
law which cannot be made during the
course of hostilities except by general
assent. There are strong intimatlons
that the entente allies will not consent
to such a change.
The first formal reply to the Ameri-
can suggestion, made weeks ago. Tor
the disarming of merchant ships came
today from Italy. 1t will not be MADE
public until all the allies have respond
ed. but it was learned that the document
,vos not conclusive but -ather was argu-
mentative. -t,
CONGRESS is -TAITING.
While agitation on til subject IN con-
gress has subsidized for the time being
the disposition on the part Of leaders IN
the movement for q congressional warn
ing seemed tonight to be awaiting one.
BY recessing instead of adjourning the
senate reflected the determination or Its
leaders TO prevent by parliamentary tao
tics any discussion Of the Gore resolu-
ton. Senator Gore in a statement TO-
MsE.w. ~ m