The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-03-10
Berlin WILLING
TO FOLLOW Law
BERNSTORFF SAYS GERMANY
WILL MODIFY IF ALLIES
WILL DO SO.
PRESENTS MEMORANDUM
Setting Forth German Position And
Hopes Americans Will APP.
preciate Position. ~

Washington, March S.-Germany
today made a further explanation to
the United States of the position 1t
has taken in regard to armed mer-
chant vessels of the Entente Allies.
Count Won Bernstorff handed Sec
rotary Lansing a formal memoran-
DUN which, after reviewing the
events leading up to Germany's re-
cent decision to treat armed mer-
chant ships as auxiliary cruisers,
conceded that existing international
law does not regulate the use of sub
marines, indicated a willingness to
conduct undersea warfare in accord
ance with the law prevailing at the
outbreak Of the war providing Great
Britain and her allies would regard
the same laws. and expressed the
hope that the people of the United
States, remembering the long-exist-
ing friendship relations between the
two nations would appreciate the
German position.
The memorandum was submitted
to President Wilson shortly after its
receipt. 1t will be considered, to-
gether with other documents from
the German Government, in deter
mining what shall be the next step
of the United States in the submarine
negotiations. There was every indi-
cation that the Administration would
be in no hurry to announce a stand
as to the new policy of the Central
European Powers, or to pass finally
upon Germany's latest proposal for
a settlement of the Lusitania case.
Echoes Of President Wilson's vic
tory in the fight to end agitation in
Congress over the armed ship ques-
tion was heard to-day on both sides
of the capitol. In the Senate, Sena-
tor Stone. chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, made a state
ment, after a conference with the
President, announcing that because
of the chance that his remarks might
be miconstrued abroad, he would not
make a speech he had prepared for
delivery tomorrow. He referred to
the difficulties by which the Execu-
tive was beset, and declared that
President Wilson's supreme wish was
to avoid the calamity of war.
On the House side several members
asked leave to extend in the record
their remarks of yesterday on the
tabling of the McLemore armed ship
resolution and Minority Leader Mann
took occasion to suggest that some
had voted on both sides of the ques-
tion on the last ballots so they could
explain their positions to constitu-
ents on either side. Representative
Fess, Of Ohio, began a reply, bat Mr.
Mann shut off further argument by
a point of order.
From both the White House and
the State Department there came
during the day emphatic denials of a
rumor that the Administration itself
intended to warn American citizens
off armed ships. At the State De-
partment 1t was explained that it was
for the citizens themselves who took
passage on armed ships not entering
American waters to determine wheth-
er they were boarding vessels armed
defensively or Extensively and 1.-The
nature of the instructions under
which ship captains would act in the
presence of submarine. An often
sively armed ship which enters Amer
lean waters. it was said, would be re-
garded as a war vessel and would
not be allowed to remain more than
twenty-four hours. In foreign wa
tiers, however. 1t is no concern of this
Government how ships are armed.