Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-28


ambassador will lay much stress up
ON the assurances regarding the arm
Ing Of merchant ships which wer
given 10 the United States by Grea
Britain In memorandum signed ~
Sir cecil spring Rice tho British am
hassador on August Is, 1914. II
this the British ambassador wrote
the following.
u have been instructed at the same
time by his majesty principal soc.
rotary Of state for foreign affairs u
Five The United states government the
fullest assurances that British mcr-
chant vessels will never be used FOR
purposes of attack that they are
merely peaceful traders armed only
for defense and that they win never
FIRE unless first fired upon and that
they VIII never under any crcum-
stances attack any vessel"
Germany claims that Great Britain
has deliberately violated these 49,.
surances and Secretary Lansing will
b. 80 Informed
Former stand Iiecollectcd.
Ambassador Won Bernstorffs al.
American memorandum Of september
~. 1914, to port authorities, which
defines for their benefit defensive
armament In this document, which
WIS signed by Secretary Lansing, Ii
Is stated that "the presence OF arma-
ment and ammunition on board a.
merchant vessel creates the presnmp-
ton that the armament Is for often
sive purposes but the owners or
agents may overcome this presump-
ton by evidence showing that the
vessel carries armament solely for
defensive purposes"
The Berlin government is said tol
realize that. should II sink an armed
ship. upon II viii rest the burden OF
proof regarding guns. but 70 contend
hat upon the government owning the
ship would fall the burden OF proof
regarding the non-offcnsivc charac-
Ter of the armament.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff is nm. l
TO have been given no In
'tructions to request from the United [
States a definition of what II conaid-
re under existing conditions may be
considered defensive armament. He
3 understood, however, TO have pre-
Jared to discuss the question with
brought up during the coming con-
crencc.
In this connection confidential adj
ices from Berlin indicate that the
herman government might be willing
o treat as peaceful merchantmen
With armament so light and so placed
hat IL could not possibly be used Of
ensively.
The ambassador is also understood
o have been instructed TO cali TO the
ttention OF Secretary Lansing The
act that French ships are not arm
d, that their ships entering Ameri-
an ports are not armed and that
the Berlin government
onslders the chances of difficulties
With the United States as a result of
ifG INV putty dIt ttifiUits
New Attitude Speculative.
The attitude of the United states
robably will not be made known ut
nee. Much depends upon the con-
pnts of the appendices to the Ger
nan memorandum which are claim
d 20 contain copies OF alleged conf
entail Instructions to masters of
'rltifh merchantmen regarding war
IRE on submarines.
The principal assurance given IN
he Lusitania case read az follows.
Liners viii not be sunk without
'arning by our submarines and with
ut safety of the lives of non-com-
atants, provided that the liners dc
OF try TO escape or offer resistance.
The contention of the Berlin gov
rnment Is represented as being that
II defensiycly armed British mer-
hantmen are prepared and instruct
1 not only TO resist but TO attack
Austio- Hungarian Position.
II is understood that the Austro-
hungarian embassy here has rcceiv- I
4 advices somewhat similar 10 those /
ant from Berlin to Count Won Bern I
Iortf. IL could not be learned to- r
light whether Baron Erich Zwiedi- ,
elk, charge OF the embassy, would ,
all upon Secretary Lansing and in !
orm him Of the position Of his gov
which differs slightly from !
hat of Germany because of the fact ,
hat virtually all Italian ships are ,
rmed, although those leaving Amer :
can ports do so under pledge that ,
hey will not use their guns when ,
armed by a submarine. Germany. ,
OF being at war with Italy, has no ,
'articular interest In Italian ships Z
he state department holds to the :
osition that an unarmed ship and (
hip armed for defensive purposes
re in identlcally the same class ana !
iust be treated accordingly ORR N
ials for the department have lndi- i
ated willingness to discuss with 4,
he central European powers the i
uestion OF what may properly be
Dnsidorcd defensive armament ana .
lere have been intlmations that the !
ovefnmcnt was eonsidcrns revising 4
$ instructions to port authorities IN !
MS regard, 5
q