The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-18
MAKE TEST CASE
England Prepares to Press
Deutschland Contentious.
Formal Diplomatic Note Is Ex-
pected by Washington.
HOLD U. S. RESPONSIBLE
British Still Maintain Diver
Trader Is WarShip.
Officials Will Give Captain
KOnig a Square Deal.
HOLD U. S. RESPONSIBLE

Washington, July 1S.-Great Brit
ain has let it be known that she will
hole this government responsible IN
the event of any losses to her COM
merce caused by the German subma-
riue, Deutschland.
This government, it was ascertained
from official sources, will accept the
responsibility.
Officials of the administration see
In the attitude of Great Britain that
the allies are disposed to make serl-
ous test question of the Deutschland.
It was stated that Great Britain, not
withstanding the assurances of this
government concerning the Deutsch-
land, continues to insist:
First, that the Deutschland is
warship essentially and capable or
using guns against British commerce
Second that this government should
rule that the Deutschland be not per-
mitted to cross the three-mile limit
submerged.
on these main points it is known
the position of the United States IS W lne
oDDosite of that of the allies. II was
reiterated today emphatically that
aside from any question that may
herea fter arise after the departure OF
the Deutschland, she Is mot now d
war vessel
Notice to Allies.
1t is expected that before the
Deutschland sails the allies VIII pe
notified that this government finds no
warrant to interfere with the manner
in which the Deutschland crosses the
three-mile limit.
The question of responsibility to the
allies for any damage the Deutschlanu
I,0fy- 1F10n
should attack ships en- route, is TOO
remote, officials say, to need very seri-
Gus consideration at this time. cItl-
cials content themselves with saying
there are many questions, some OF
them germane and some purely hypo-
thetical, that may be raised by per-
sons in this country and in Europe
which must sooner or later be decided,
in view of the Deutschland being a
test case.
What is known is that the informa-
tion obtained by British officials at the
state department concerning this
country's attitude toward the Deutsch-
land has been reported to Sir Edward
Grey. The next step, it is understood,
VIII be either formal note from the
British am mbassador by direction of Sir
Edward Grey, or note handed to Am
bassador Page at London by the Brit
ish foreign office setting forth the
duty of the United States in the cir
cumstances as it is understood by the
allies.
On Won Jagow@ Interview.
The state department would make
no comment on the Interview given to
the press by Herr Won Jagow, the Ger
man minister of foreign affairs, on the
status and rights of the Deutschland
Officials, however. took note of two
of the main points he made. The first
of these is that if the Deutschland
continues 10 he held a merchant YES
sci by the United States, the state de-
partrent, in order to be consistent,
must see that she is accorded all the
rights at sea which have been de-
manded for American and British
merchant ships against German war
vessels. The second is that the United
States is on record during the Grant
administration to the effect that the
''hovering of warships of a belligerent