Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-27
Official Declaration Is Issued
Regarding Attitude Toward
Armed Merchantmen and
Their Rights,
EXPLAINS IN ADVANCE
AMERICAN POSITION
Only Vessels Offering Resist
ance or Attempting to Es-
cape Can Be Attacked
Regulations Are Drastic,

mamma JOURNAL SPECIAL luAsEp wIsEl
Washington, April 26.--An official
declaration of the attitude of the
fInited States toward armed merchant
ships. made public today by Secretary
Lansing. reiterates and explains the
purpose of the American government
to recognize the right of peaceful ves-
sells to carry arms for defense and at
the same time, while referring only to
warships generally. clearly sets forth
the conditions under which the Unit
cd States holds submarines may at
tack merchant craft.
Answer in Advance.
The declaration was issued in the
form of memorandum prepared by
Mr.. Lansing at President wilson's di-
recton during the secretary's brief
vacation last month. Copies or IL
were given to each of the embassies
and legations here, and while no Of
fetal explanation was forthcoming as
TO the purpose of publishing the mem
orandum at this time, it Is assumed
that at least the substance of 1t will
roach the Berlin foreign office before
a reply is dispatched to the American
demand for abandonment of Ger
many's present methods of submarine
warfare. This would serve to answer
in advance certain questions which
cable dispatches have indicated the
German government was inclined TO
ask
British Merchant Ships.
In connection with the memoran-
dun It was stated that the state de-
no NJ inc o.
sponse f,on9' Great Britain 10 a. re-
quest for copies Of orders to armed
British merchant vessels. Germany
has charged that these ships were in
structed to act aggressiyely against
submarines and has submitted photo
graphic copies of orders taken some
months ago from captured craft This
evidence is not considered conclusive
here, however, as the United states
will base its position on orders now in
effect.
Ono Compact Statement.
During the long drawn out nego-
tiations following the sinking of the
Lusitania Secretary Lansing has
stated in general terms nearly all or
the postnlates which he lays down in
t0days declaration. 1t was deter
mined, however to gather these into
one compact statement and to elabor-
ate the state departments views be-
yond any possibility of misunder-
standing or, double construction.
The United States Position.
An effort Is made to differentiate
between an armed ship in a Neutral
port and the same vessel on the high
In ha ig 81
that the United States government
against any charges that might be
made by one of the belligerents that
IL has allowed American ports to be |
used as a base for hostile operations
by its enemy. Mr.. Lansing insists !
mat the neutral government is to be !
The sole judge of the status of armed
SHIPS In its ports in the absence or +,
any settled rule of International law.
commission or orders from bellig- !
erent government to conduct aggres- |
slve operations under penalty of pun |
lshment for failure so to do would |
stamp the vessel as warship.
Neutral Is Sole Judge.
In the absence of such evidence, the |
neutral government may lay down its |
own rules OF evidence and determine |
me character Of the ship and, more !
over these rules, unlike principles OF |
law may be changed or |
modified during the progress OF the |
war;
commenting on this portion of the |
a high official of the |
state department. admitted that the !
refusal of the American port author
lnes TO clear vessel might be taken /
us notice to the public that she
was regarded as a warship not enti-
ued TO immunity for her passengers.
When Attack Is Justified.
me section relating to armed mer-
chaht vessels on the high seas dis
'ioses in positive terms the American
view that there must be no attacks
"llnont warning upon merchant
s'.hips, even if they are armed, unless
ne commander of the warship has
ipsolute knowledge that the mer-
sshahtInan is under mandatory orders
ON her government to act OFTEN
NNely The mere presence of arma-
heht on a merchant ship is declared
lot 20 be such evidence as would JUS
ny an attack without warning or
without regard TO the rights of per-
sons aboard.
Right of Merchantmen.
Inc right of an armed merchant
nan' without losing its peaceful char
'Vser, to protect itself either by flight