The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-12
Germany VIII Sink Them
Without Notice, Is Declare
ton From Berlin
GREAT BRITAIN ON
DISARMING PROPOSAL
Will Hold That United States
Policy Is That Merchant
Ship Has Right to Arm for
Purely Defensive Purpose

Washington, Feb. 11.---Ambassador
Gerard cabled the state Department
today that ne has received the official
text of the new German regulations
ihs,ructing submarine commanders to
treat armed merchant vessels as aux
Hilary cuisers. Mr. Gerard said he
would cable the regulations TO Wash
ington at once.
When, the official text it, received
from Berlin the state Department viii
take up for consideration the course
| II will uursue officials said today that
the department is not likely to move
toward amending Tvs regulations re-
iattng TO the admission OF armed mer-
chantmen To American ports until n
reply is received from Great Britain
and her allies to the proposals to dis
arm all merchant ships recently sub
mitted to them b. Secretary Lansing,
1t became known today that the
British government Is preparing an
extended repls to Secretary Lansing 5
proposals tireat t3rttaius first con-
tention will he that the United states
cannot change it's resolutions during
the war without committing 4 breach
of neuirality It will be pointed out
that the United states itself took this
!
embargo on expectations Of arms and
ammunition during the progress or
war when requested to do so by the
General powers.
Committed to Present Policy.
The British government also is pre-
paytug 10 quote al length from eff etal
communications exchanged be'"eeit
the United States aud the beliigsrents
during the war to show thBt the United
. s.sa n III a. =
of permitting vessels to arm them
selves for purely defensive purposes.
I In a note August .. lett. the British
embassy notified the United states that
a rertain number of British ner-
chant vessels are armed solely Tor the
purpose OF defense. which under exist
ing rules OF International Law is the
right OF ali merchant vessels when a."
lacked" The note added that there
was no right on the part of neutral
governments ia intern British armed
merchant vessels. nor o rrHt3sre them
10 land their guns before proceeding
to sea.
The state Department replied TO
this 80 Hn t444i Ift-satina by stating that It
acknowledged without comment the
statement OF British policy
ON september ., the British embassy
IN note 10 tina state Department
said
"The German governments mas
openly entered upon the policy OF arm"
ing merchant ships as commerce de-
stroyers IL Is in consequence OF TINS
that the British admiralty has been
compelled in accordance with the
practice followed in the great wars q
HISTORY, to arm certain uuHl'ef al
British merchant ships Tor ,elf-defense
only"
Ten days later the Stale Depart
ment issued its regulations, now slated
for amendment. which provide That q
merchant vessel may carry guns. not
exceeding six inches in caiiber. Cor the
purpose of defense without acauirin :
the character of a ship of war.
Defends Position.
1 Defending this position few weeks
later against protest. Of the Gerin2 n
! government. W hich held the action OF
the United States to be unneutrai the
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