Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-12
WAY TO Be FOUND
TO PUT WEAPONS
IN OWNERS HANDS
Nations Standing Demands
That Vessels Continue
to Ply Seas.
MUST PAY NO ATTENTION
TO GERMAN PROCLAMATION
Berlin's Proposal That Means Be
Made for Preventing Break
Finds No Response.
MAY BE IGNORED ENTIRELl
President Keeps Himself Free for
Work on Submarine Issue and
Legislative Program.
MUST PAY NO ATTENTION
TO GERMAN PROCLAMATION
MAY BE IGNORED ENTlRELr
President Keeps Himself Free for
Work on Submarine Issue and
Legislative Program.
lBy Associated Prcss.l

lBy Associated Press
WASHINGTON February ll-Ameri-
can shipowncrs who have been hold
| ing their vessels Import. because OF
| inability TO obtain guns for defense
against submarines probably Will have
their difficulty solved in a few DAYS
Strong intimations were given in Of
hcial quarters Tonight. that while the
government will not actually arm mer-
chant craft, or even formally advise
arminG. a way will bc found to put
weapons At the disposal of owners
who desire to prepare for defense
against Illegal attack
The enforced idlencss OF the Ameri-
can merchant feet is being view
cd with growing disaui",. and til.
general view here is that not only the
export trade. but the nations stand
| ing before the world. demands that
American vessels continue to ply the
high seas without regard TO the Ger
man proclamation. which the govern
mcnt has rcpudiatcd with the most
severe means In its power short OF
war.
The German proposal dolivcred 10
tho state Department yesterday. THAI
means bc made for preventing . hreak
chord hero. No Official would indicate
to-day whether reply already had
hcrn given. hu; there was no dis
position 10 deny that tho proposal had
hccn made or that the American gov
crnmcu;, regarded il as an effort on
the part Of Germany to bcfoc tho is
sue. 1t was made clear everywhere in
govcrnmsnt circles that there was
nothing TO discuss. un'ess Germany
desired u stop abridging American
rights and illegally mcnacug Ameri-
can life.
INTEREST ~ CONFERENCE
CALLED RI KAISER
IN connection with the German suE-
gcs,ion, iutcrcs, attached to cable dis
patches announcing that Emperor Will
liam had called conference prcsum-
ably TO discuss the submarine cam
paiGn and tho position of ncutrals. II
was suggested that out of the con-
ference might come something more
tangible than tho mere oral sugges-
iion that Germany would like TO dis
cuss means Of preventing the add-
,ion Of another nation 10 her Ions
! list OF enemies.
What has been done 80 far is con-
s;rucd only attempt TO place
upon the United states the appearance
of hcliiEcrency. believing the chief
purpose is to hcwidcr public opinion
here and divide the country. the move
is about as unwclcon!e here AS il Mr.
Gerard in Berlin had gone behind the
German government through the Span
iSh amba sSador. who /. >reSents the
United States there, in an appeal TO
the German people on wholly in
complete issue.
Whether any sort OF answer. beyond
mere acknowledgment To the Swiss
minister. who presented the SuSGes-
ton yesterday. he made is uncertain,
as that matter rests entirely with
President Wilson. Opinions differ,
some believing il wiser 10 ignore the
suggestion entirely.
The fact that only ono vessel was
destroyed in the war zone to-day. and
that the number has been growing
smaller daily. has modified the views
oi those who though, the new cam
paign might completely isolate Eng
land Reports from British sources
tina, less than ninety vessels out OF
i,i0O going TO and from England have
been destroyed since the campsign
started are regarded As Significant as
to the success OF tho undersca war.
fare TO date
COY ERNMENT TO TAKE
EVERY pUECAuTioN
In thc matter Of permitting the arm.
ing OF American ships. tho government
viii take every prccaution. il is
understood. not to 60 further officially
than Il has alrcad. gone in tcllinc
shipowncrS that they are justified in
arin!ns for self protect!ou IL they think
II necessary. strong opposition has
DEVELOPED from tho beginning Of the
armament discussion 10 any step which
would seem TO impicata the country
absolutely IN the actual machinery Of
armament
Nevertheless. officials believe that 30
long IS the government has rcpuIiatsd
GermanS's war zone. and officially mott
hcd american shipowncrs of their
right 10 arm for seif-pro;ection the
owners should be put in j position
To exercise ;nat right.
the statement OF T. \. S. Franklin
that he has vainly sought guns and
sunncrS for tho American liners Ms