The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-02-17
WILL REFUSE TO
D|SARM VESSELS
Great Britain to Reject U. S,
Proposals.
BACKED BY ENTENTE POWERS
Stand Determined by Informal Confen
ences of the Allies in London-To
Be Confirmed at Great
War Council.

Washington, Feb. 15.-At the FISK Oh
straining still further the deilcate re-
lations existing between the United
States and Great Britain ana her al
lies, the administration practically mas
decided to support Germany in her
stand that armed merchant vessels III
reality are auxiliary cruisers. lhls
information came from sources close
to President Wilson.
London, Feb. l5.-England will re-
ject proposals made by the Unitea
States that merchant vessels De ols-
armed. In taking this action Great
Britain will have the backing of all the
entente powers. This has been deter
mined by informal preliminary con-
ferences held by Sir Edward Grey
with representatives of the allies ID
London and formal affirmation OF the
decision will be made at great war
council to be held in Paris in the near
future.
Win Never Abandon Position.
The British government will never
abandon the position that it has taken
that the sinking of merchant vessels
without warning even if the ships at
tackled carry guns for their defense, is
contrary to the principles of civilized
warfare. Even if the United States
should accept the doctrine set forth
in Germany and Austria's announce
ment that armed merchant vessels
shall be torpedoed without warning,
England and her allies will not waver
in their determination to class as pi-
rates all Teutonic crews that obey the
orders of the Berlin and Vienna ad-
miraltes.
The general impression among the
| people of England and in London Off
| cial circles is that the American gov
eminent intends to accept the arCu-
ment of Germany. This is certain to
result in the development of tension,
more or less acute. between London
and Washington. What the outcome
of such tension will be no one can fore
| tell at present.
Say German stand Accepted.
| English correspondents in the Amer
| lean capital cable that the German
stand on the arming Of merchant ves-
! sells is to be accepted almost without
reservation by President Wilson and
his cabinet. and that Americans are to
be warned to avoid hereafter all bel
| ligerent merchant ships carrying guns.
| They state that the recent resignation
of Secretary of War Garrison was evil
dence of the trend OF opinion in the
American cabinet.
1t is understood in Washington, they
state, that Garrison's real reason for
resigning was that he advocated rejec-
ton of Germany's submarine decree,
and the pressing to an immediate con-
clusion of the Lusitania matter. but
that he found himself in the minority
and decided his position was unten-
able.
Washington Not Disturbed.
Washington, Feb. 15.--Threats of s
ship boycott by Great Britain and her
allies should this government rule that
armed merchantmen shall be denied
clearance from American ports caused
no concern at the state department.
Here attention is contidentially called
to the trade reports, which diclose that
so far as British or French liners are
concerned-and they are the chief
freighters of the Atlantic-the mani
tests filed at all ports of entry show
that the goods carried are such as are
absolutely necessary for the belliger-
ents. The British threat, it is said, is
looked upon as very much Of bluff
and will not figure in the final de
cision on the subject.