Evening star., 1916-03-09
DENIES j. S. CITIZENS
WILL RECEIVE WARNING
Secretary Lansing Says Story Ameri-
cans Will Be Told Not to Travel
on Armed Ships Is False.

Secretary Lansing today requested
publication of the following statement:
Il wish to deny there is the slightest
foundation for story sent out of
Washington last night by a news serv-
ice and appearing in the newspapers
this morning to the effect that Ameri-
can citizens will receive indirect but
effective warning not to take passage
on armed merchantmen. The story is
false from beginning to end. Nothing
1 have said could be construed as hav-
ing such a meaning
Deny Intention of Warning. "
From both the White House and the
State Department there came during the
day emphatic denials of rumor that the
administration itself intended to warn
American citizens off armed ships. At the
State Department it was explained that
1t was for the citizens themselves who
took passage on armed ships not entering
American waters to determine whether
they were boarding vessels armed de-
fensively or extensively and the nature Of
the instructions under which ship captains
would act in the presence of a submarine
An offensively armed ship which en-
ters American waters, it was said,
would be regarded as war vessel and
would not be allowed to remain more
than twenty-four hours. In foreign
waters, however, it is no concern of
this government how ships are armed.
The new submarine campaign of the
central powers has now been in opera
ton nine days and up to date the State
Department had no reports of any act
by German or Austrian submarine
commander under the changed orders
State Department officials make no
secret of the fact that they do not be-
lieve any acts will be committed if they
can be avoided which might involve the
death or injury of American citizens
May Inquire as to Accuracy.
Administration officials are consider
ing the complete translated documents
appended to the German declaration of
intentions. 1t was indicated that the
next move by the United States might
take the form of an inquiry to Great
Britain as to the authenticity of the
German copies of alleged confidential
instruction to British sea captains
High officials said the entire subject
would be given careful study and con-
sideration in an effort to reach a con-
clusion which will be fair to all nations
concerned and upon which the United
States can stand hereafter. Meanwhile
should an American citizen be involved
IN an attack on an armed merchant
ship. upon the facts in the case will de-
pend whatever action is taken.
Presidents Mind Unchanged.
Following the circulation of rumors
in the House of Representatives yester-
day that the State Department had re-
ceived documents from abroad which
changed the entire face of the armed
ship controversy. Representative Hop
wood of Pennsylvania asked one of the
members who was speak king on the sub
ject il he had not heard the President
was about to change his mind and is
sue a warning to Americans travelling
on such armed ships. Following this
Representative Pou of North Carolina
announced that he was authorized by
the President to deny as utterly fool
ish" the rumor that had gone abroad.
The rumor in the House was based on
the assertion that Photographic copies
Of the orders to armed merchantmen,
issued by the British admiralty. were
so clearly orders to attack submarines
when found that a warning would ne
cessarily follow.