Arizona republican., 1917-02-13
PROPOSALS TO
 NEGOTIATE ARE
 FLATLY SPURNED
Continued From Page One)

policy of submarine warfare against neutrals which it is now pursuing un less the German government renews its assurances of the fourth of May (the Sussex note), and acts upon the assur- ances.
 The state department made public the secretary's reply, together with a memorandum which at Mir. Lansing's suggestion Dr. Ritter, the Swiss min ister, had prepared last night setting down in writing the suggestions origin ally transmitted orally. Previously of ficials had declined to confirm the an- nouncement by the Associated Press Saturday afternoon that such pro- posal had been delivered by Dr. RitteB. The state department gave out statement as follows:
 Tn view of the appearance in the newspapers of Feb. II of a report that Germany was initiating negotiations with the United States in regard to the i submarine warfare, the department of state makes the following statement: [ "A suggestion was made orally to l the department of state last Saturday afternoon by the minister of Switzer- 1 land that the German government is l willing to negotiate with the United States, provided that the commercial blockade against England would not be interfered with At the request of the secretary of state this suggestion was made in writing and presented to him by the Swiss minister Sunday night.
 The communication is as follows:
 Memorandum:
 The Swiss government has been re- quested by the German government to hot En lot fe. Inf willing to negotiate, formally or infor- mally with the United States. provided that the commercial blockade against England will not be broken thereby "(Signed) r. RITTER"
 This memorandum was given i'm mediate consideration and the follow ing reply was dispatched today:
 My dear MT. Minister:
 ''I am requested by the president to say to you, on acknowledgment of the memorandum which you were kind enough to send to me on the 11th inst, that the government of the United States would gladly discuss with the German government any question it might propose for discussion were it to withdraw it's proposition of the 31st of January in which. suddenly and with out previous intimation of any kind IL teiilIcutu llle WHICH IL had given this government on the fourth of May, last; but that it does not feel that it can enter into any discussion with the German govern ment concerning the policy of subma- a- rine warfare against neutrals which 1t is now pursuing unless and until the German government renews it's assur- ance of the fourth of May and acts upon the assurance.
 No other interchange on this sub ject has taken place between this gov ernment and any other government or person.
 In view of the fact that the United States has taken the most vigorous course possible short of war to de- nounce the ruthless submarine war fare, officials of the government regard the German proposal to negotiate while the campaign is in progress as utterly insincere. From the first the move has , been looked upon and resented as a piece of propaganda designed to be- cloud the issue and put the United States into a false position of bel ligerency.
 The question of whether navy guns shall be provided for American ship owners desiring to arm their vessels for defense against submarines has been submitted to President Wilson by the state and navy departments. It is understood that the state depart ment, the governments spokesman on international problems, has recom- mended that the guns be provided.
 There is said to be no authority under which the navy department can /, actually supply the guns, though there are precedents for the loaning of weap ons under bond for their return. Under 1 existing laws only condemned guns and stores can be sold by the navy.