Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-28
VIII Not Change Nor POST
pone New Submarine
Order.
CAN NOT MODIFY
NEW SUBSEAA POLICY
Has No Intention Of Rsvokins Any
Plsdsss Given In Lusltania cass-
Liners viii Not ss Sunk Withoas
Warnins-Repiy to American Nets
Submitted to Secretary Lansina-ls
Seconded by Auseria.

Washington. Feb. 2s.--In note pre-
sented to Secretary Lansing today by
Count Won Bernstorff. Germany as
sures the United States that 1t has no
OF revoking the pledges given
in the Lusitania case.
The note says Germany can conceive
Of no reason for changing or postponins
the new instructions to her submarine
commanders to treat al warships en-.
envy merchant ships armed 'defen.
sively" and precautions have been
taken to prevent ships not armed from
being attacked.
The note at the outset reiterated the
previous pledges which were given on
Sept. and Oct. s, last year, for tho
safety OF unresisting liners, and then
goes on to say the German govern.
ment does not believe those assurances
have been modified by the new mem.
orandum.
During the negotiations over the Lu.
sitania no mention was made OF armed
merchantmen, 1t says, and that the
United States in one note on the Lusi-
tania mentions armed merchantmen.
Liners 70 Be Given WARMING.
Attention 10 then called TO assur.
ances given that liners Win n6s be.
sunk without warniag, = sAftsiitiun u
also called to the staxenanx Of I. taa
American governnent Ia In Hst3ce ~
port r1uthestttea that the pfg1 IN rs5 ISSyF
armament on asnferchaus ~ si cres
stes the presumption that tiA. vssilsei =
armed for defense. It Ii stated that q
submarine commander can not warn a
on the submarine which warns It, ana
the German government sets UP the
contention that equipment ana tnten.
ton to resist q warning OF a submarine
does not come within the definition
Of defensive armament.
Germany contends q similar View.
point was taken by the United States
and it secured from the italian govern
ment promise that it would not per.
NIT its merchantmen to fire on submR.
rines which warn them.
It Is denied that armed British mer.
chant ships Of any description arc
peaceful traders. and 1t 10 declared that
the armament on board all of them IL
to be used especially for purposes OF
attack.
Declare British Break Pledges.
The charge Is made that Austrian
have also been attacked by
armed British merchantmen, which the
note declares are not conforming with
the assurance given to the United
States by the memorandum of Aug. Is
1915, by Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the Brit.
ish ambassador. -
The German government says It can
not see how the United States can re-
gard British merchantmen. which are
armed. as peaceful trading ships.
The note says the German govern
ment believes its new instructions nre
In. accord with the viewpoint OF tho
United States. in memorandum pro-
posing a modus vivendi to the entents
allies for the disarmament OF merchant
ships. 3
II declares that German submarine
have been 80 instructed
that they will not destroy merchants
ship on a question Of armament unless
II is known positively that such arlna-
ment exists. A declaration that previ-
Dus pledges will not be revoked also Is
given.
The efforts Of the United States to
have the belligerents agree to a modGs
which would cause all mer-
chant ships to be disarmed, 1t Is de-
clared, are welcomed by Germany.
No Modification Of Instructions.
Then follows declaration that Ger>
many will no longer allow Its subma-
rines to be made an object Of attack in
of the principles of interna-
tsoinal law and that therefore the new
will not be modified.
Appended to the communication was
a list Of about twenty Incidents. where.
It is charged. German and Austrian
have been attacked by
armed obstentiously for
defensive purposes.
At no place In the communication
Is 1t suggested that American citizens
be warned OF armed merchant ships
and the question of what constitutes \
defensive armament Is not brought un.
Austria Seconds Gsrmany's Statemsnt.
Baron Zwiedinek. charge of the Aus
triar embassy. called upon Secretary
after Count Won Rernstorff had
EFT, and informed him that Gernany's
Views as set forth In the note from
Count Won Bernstorff. were identical
with those Of his country and that aus
ria. in effect, seconded everything con-
aiacd in the German statement.
Secretary Lansing Is said not to hive
advised either OF the diplomats what
he view Of the United States Wnul0 be
oward the communications. n Was an
ierstood the note>Would be hrolyht 10
he attention OF president Wilson he.
orc night and that uottsne S7eflutao