New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-31
Washington Awaits Off
cial Notice That Craft
Will Be Sunk
PRESIDENT FACES
NEW U-BOAT ISSUE
Serious Possibilities Are
Foreseen in Settling of
Long Pending Question

Washington. Jan. 30.-Information
has reached here that Germany and her
allies are considering communicating
to the State Department virtual
warning that Americans shoulG keep
off Of armed merchant ships of bellig-
erent nations. This became known to-
day following the intmation in official
circles yesterday that the United States
might issue a new memorandum set
ting forth its attitude toward armed
merchantmen.
1t is not known just when or in what
manner the warning may be conveyed,
but Germany, apparently, has been paw
ing the way for such step for sew
eral weeks by submitting 10 the State
Department a series Of statements al
leging specific instances in which mer-
chant craft Of the Entente powers have
used Extensively against submarines
guns carried ostensibly for defence.
( The armed ship question, an unsolved
problem throughout all the negoti8-
tions over submarine warfare, is in
volved in practically all the cases now
pending between the United States and
Germany and over which an admittedly
grave situation eventually will have to
be faced.
Officials Await Peace Outcome
Officials of the American govern
ment, however, have adopted a waiting
attitude during discussion of moves for
peace, and still believe that the sub
marine issue will not be forced 10 a
conclusion so long as there is a posi-
bility Of tangible developments toward
peace.
There is reason 20 believe that the
State Department already has begun an
effort to deal with this situation by
preventive diplomacy" What steps
have been taken cannot be learned. The
understanding is, however, that Mr..
Gerard has blanket instructions to use
every influence to prevent a fresh out
break of submarine frightfulness.
Nevertheless, there is worry in the
Administration. The President himself
has been giving attention to this posi-
bility for weeks. II was in his mind,
unquestionably, when he sent his peace
note. and later when he made his SEN
ate speech. In those efforts he did his
personal part toward convincing Ger
many LndI LNt OHANNh oIdNNo ihlbhN Nv
no far distant day be an effective
agency for peace.
Would Make Square Issue
But has enough been done? Will the
Won Bethmann-Hollweg government
limit longer the use of popular and,
perhaps, an effective weapon merely
because of a vague hope that President
Wilson may be useful later for peace
making? Is Germany convinced, even,
that more frightfulness would mean a
break with the United States? These
questions are causing the worry.
1t is declared with the utmost firm
ness that the United States will not
swerve from it's recognition of the
right to arm merchant ships for de-
fence. More than that, 1t is actually
intended to permit greater liberty Of
clearance to such vessels visiting Amer
lean ports.
Therefore, if Germany issues her
manifesto, the issue will be sharply
drawn. II will be necessary for the
United States Immediately TO register
a public protest. If Germany proceeds
with the programme in the face Of
this, President Wilson will have to
| break relations or retract.