Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-18
German Note
Not Acceptable
LANSING WANTS AGREEMENT
COVERING ALL POINTS
PLAN IS INCONSISTENT
Tentative Agreement Designed to Set
tie the Lusitania Case Will Not be
Formally Accepted Until Germany
Recedes from Her Present Plan,

Washington, Feb. 17.-The United
states in its. submarine controversy
with Germany will accept nothing
short of a full and complete agreement
covering all the points for which it
has contended as TO assurances that
the warfare in the future will be con-
Quoted in accordance with the estab-
lished principles of the international
law.
German Attitude Inconsistent.
In announcing this fact today Sec
retary Lansing let it be known that
the state department considers Ger
manys declaration of its intention to
sink without warning after Feb. 29
all armed merchant ships of the en-
tente allies to be inconsistent with the
assurances previously given by this
government by the Berlin foreign gov
ernment
Holds Up Lusitania Agreement
The tentative agreement designed to
end the Lusitania case, still in the
possession of Secretary Lansing, will
not be formally accepted until such
assurances regarding the future are
given, although the communication
in so far as it relates to the Lusitania
itself. is acceptable.
| State department officials also con-
slider that the Austro- Hungarian mem
| orandum regarding armed ships Is not
| in accord with the assurances given
4
| over the sinking of the Italian steam
| snip Ancona. Consequently final SET
| tlement of the Ancona case once post
| poned because of doubt regarding the
| circumstances of the sinking of the
| British steamship Persia, probably
will be withheld, until Austria gives
| assurances similar to those now re-
| quired from Germany.
| Views Explained to Won Bernstorff.
| h. e
explained in detail today by Secretary
| Lansing TO Count Won ,Bernstorff, the
| German amba assador. The amba assador
was informed it was indicated at the
state department that the United
States desires the German declaration
regarding armed merchant ships to be
modified.
Later in the day the ambassador
sent long despatch to his government
explaining the position and require
ments of the United States. It was
understood the ambassador informed
his government that the United States
| wanted particularly to know whether
the assurances previously given in the
| Lusitania and the Arabic cases still
were in force.
Germany Wants Assurance from Brit
ain.
| Tonight it was stated emphatically
in Teutonic diplomatic circles that the
Berln foreign office would not modify
| the declaration intention to sink arm
ed ships inform the United States
the previous assurances still were
binding unless Great Britain should
give assurances of some kind that a
submarine which warns British
steamship armed. ostensibly for defen-
slve purposes, would not be fired upon.
In this connection it was explained
at the state department that the Unit
ed States considers unarmed merchant
ships and ships armed for defensive
purposes to be in identically the same
class. Furthermore, it is held that
the word liner" as employed in the
previous assurances from Germany re-
garding the conduct of submarine
warfare includes freight as well as
passenger ships.
| 1t was declared at the department
that at no time had suggestions been
made to the German government
| which would have led it to issue its
| latest memorandum.