Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-19
j. S. UPH0LDS
RIGHT TO ARM. Al
Note Sent to All Consular
Officials Defining
Attitude.
MERCHANTMEN CAN
CARRY DEFENSE GUNS
Right to Equip Vessels With Defen.
sive Armament Directly Opposed to
/. Germany's Announced Intention Of
Attacking and Destroying Ships Of
Enemy Without Warning An.
nouneement May Open Controversy.

partment has issued to ali American
diplomatic and consular officials
abroad a circular communication stat
ing that the position of the United
States is that merchant ships have 4
right to carry defensive armament
This move was the first formal an
nouncement that the United States
does not accept as, legal the announced
intention Of Germany and Austria to
sink armed merchant ships of the
enemy without warning after Feb. 20.
New Dispute With Germany.
1t is not expected here that the de-
cision of the United States will be ac-
cepted by Germany without protest.
Germany's response to the latest re-
quest Of the United States for assur-
ances that submarine warfare will be
conducted in accordance with estab-
lished principles Of international law Is
expected to be flat statement thai
accurances previously given in the
Lusitania and Arabic cases had to do
only with unarmed vessels and that
the German government must feel GER
tain that its submarines which warn
q merchant ship will not be attacked.
Furthermore the Berlin foreign Of
flee probably will ask the United States
for it's definition Of defensive arma-
ment
Will Raise Big Question.
1t is considered certain that the
question of refining defensive arma-
ment will be the basis Of lengthy ne
gotiations with the central powers, be-
ginning when the reply is received to
the message outlining the views of the
United States, which Count Won Bern
storff, the German ambassador. has
sent his government. -. y y
III this dispatch the Ambassador
transmitted at some length the views
explained to him by Secretary Lansing.
The response is rot expected before
the last Of next week. n
1t was admitted at the state de-
partment yesterday that the question
of writing a formal note on the subject
of the conduct Of submarine warfare
after the complete German declaration
and it's appendix have been received,
was under consideration.
Eleven Days For Decision.
Eleven days remain before German
and Austrian submarine commanders
begin to put into effect their new in
structions, unless the date for the
open Of the new campaign 10 post
poned
While the United States is said not
to have asked for q postponement. the
German ambassador is believed to
have called the attention Of his gov
ernment to the fact that the complete
appendix forming the basis Of the Ger. :.
man declaration had not had time tc5
reach the state department and for
this reason a postponement would not
be Surprising.
Officials also are akaiting copies Of
the confidential instructions to attack
submarines the German government
alleges have been given to the COM
manders Of British merchant ships.
These were appended to the text Of
the declaration Of intentions, but be-
cause of their length they have been
forwarded by mail.
Ships Ordered to Resist.
In this connection it was stated in
German circles that evidence in their
possession led to the conclusion that
all British merchant ships with the
possible exception Of those in trans
atlantic trade had instructions to re-
sist capture.
It was pointed out that the Clan
MacTavish sunk by the raider Moewe.
the captor Of the liner Appam had
fought with its guns until unable to
make further resistance.
Sweden Warns Citizens.
Sweden has informally advised the
state department that. in consequence
Of the announced intention Of Germany
Are tn nj q ooA roo pf
men without warning, 1t will notify its
nationals not to travel on such ships.
It was explained at the legation Of
Sweden here that there would De no
general warning but that all Swedish
consuls and legations thruout the
world have been instructed to warn
their subjects whenever 1t was known
that they contemplated taking pass
age on armed ships Of the allies.
-.>,.eoe a4o- eaAASA, a ~