Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-13
Lansing Receives Formal No
tification That Enemy Mer-
chantmen Carrying Guns to
Be Treated as WarsbipS
HIGH OFFICIAL SAYS
POSITION IS RIGHT
Not An UnneutraI Act for Unit
ed States 10 Insist That
Steamers Shall DiSarm Be-
fore Coming Into Port,

Washington, Feb Gcrmany' $
formal note to the United States an
nouncing its intention TO treat armed
merchantmen Of the entente allies Is
warships after Eel ruary %, reached
the state department today The pol
icy of the United States in regard to
the declaration OF the central powers
probably will be defined some time
next week, after a note similar to that
issued by Germany is received from
the Vienna foreign office.
It was pointed out today in high Of
fetal quarters that the United states
would have to reach q decision quick
ly, only seventeen days remaining be-
fore the effective date OF this deClara-
ton, after which the commanders of
German anG Austrian submarines are
expected to receive orders permitting
the torpedoing without warning of amy
ship which IL armed.
Position Wei Founded.
There was strong indication that
various high Officials believe the po-
sition of the central powers to be wen
founded IN view of the changed condi-
tions of sea warfare. In many quar-
ters it also is considered that the TCu-
tonic declarations arc development
of the American memorandum TO the
entente allies suggesting the disarm-
ing of merchant ships and indicating
that armed merchantmen entering
American ports might be regarded rs
warshps, subject to internment.
Representatives Of various Of the
entente allies have made officla
representations TO Secretary Lansing
regarding the American mem6randum
Although the state department is
disinclned to make known tho ma
ture of the representations it was be-
lieyed the secretary was Informed that
ut least some OF the entente govern
ments wero unwilling to adopt the
suggestions and that strong protests
might follow should the United States
attempt to put into practice the sug-
seslions it has made
Tho state department has been in
formed that others of the entente SOv-
ernments were viewing the question
with open minds, but II was stated on
high diplomatic authority that the en-
tente allies probably would agree upon
a position in the near future
Denies Unneutral Act.
The contention mado IN certain en-
tentc diplomatic circles, that for the
United States to change during the
war It's policy rcgardinb the right of
merchant ships to arm for defensive
purposes would be an unncutral act.
was answered hy high official. lie
denied that he thought such o change
would be Incompatible with the neu-
tralty of the United states ana added
that should the United states take the
,.nuitfnp tbnt TtartaupN and Nuert. urt
right in their contentious. 1t might
ho claimed that instead of operating
against the entente allies, such dec
laration would in reality help them to
save the lives Of their nationals and
possibly their ships
The plan of the United States has
been to secure from Germany and
Austria pledges that no unarmcd ships
will be attacked without warming Il
Is believed here that the Teutonie
powers readily would give such pledg-
cs. Officials did not seem inclined 10
doubt that such pledges would be CIV
en- in good faith and that together
with assurances already given, the
lives of non-combatants ON unarmcd
ships would be safe in the future.
Warning Ia Americans.
Prospects Of a warning To American
citizens to remain off vessels that are
armed doomed up large today one
high official expressed tho belief that
congress would be called upon to take
some action leading to that end.
Offitials Of the state department
also are considering what effect its de-
termination as to policy will have
upon the American naval policy and
operations in the event this govern
ment was engaged in war The ques-
lion has been discussed with naval Of
ficials and probably will have an inn
portant bearing upon the final dcci-
sion.