The Washington times., 1917-02-14

States into the position Of taking the
initial hostile step that would bring
on war.
May Use Guns.
While it is explained at the Navy
Department today that the naval guns
being assembled at the Brooklyn navy
yard are not being collected primarily
for the purpose of installing them on
the American merchant ships that are
waiting to sail. but are intended for
use in converting such ships into ma
val auNiliaries in the even of war,
nevertheless there is strong reason to
believe that when the President
reaches the decision to arm the mer-
chant vessels defensively and for
trade purposes, some Of these guns
viii be used.
Must Provide Means.
For the President is said to realize
that shortly he has got to provide the
means for the American merchant
ships To defend themselves against
the German submarines. or have the
foreign trade of the country seriously
interfered with.
He has already been informed that
as a result OF the tie-up OF American
shipping export shipments are &C
cumulatinG in vast quantities at the
terminal ports. that railroad freight
traffic is becoming congested. and
that grain elevators, unable to store
any more of the accumulated export
grain, are beginning to close down.
In short, he has been told, the
American ports are being virtually
biockaded by the effects OF the Ger
man submarine campaign.
Soon. it is stated, he realizes that
he must break the Gordian knot, and,
= by furnishing the defensive arma-
ments for the ships. permit them to
depart. even though such a course
may precipitate war.
Would StaVe Off Clash.
But, if officials close to him are
to be taken as spokesmen for his
thoughts. he does not want hostilities
precipitated so long as the fate or
the Americans abroad remains in
doub.
Technically. it developed today, the
State Department feels that the
American Government is in a posi-
tion to adopt severe reprisals should
the central powers persist in hold
ing the Americans in their territory,
or should resort to any hostile action
against them. The status of the ma
tionaIs of either Germany or the
United States in the territory of the
other in time of war or threatened
war. is covered by the Prussian-
American treaties Of 1899 and 1928.
Either May Decide.
The situation with regard to these
treaties. it was explained today, is
such that either country may now
determine for itself whether they are
in full force and effect. At the time
the Seamen's Act was passed, contain
ing provisions which confiicted with
NFome OF the clauses of these old
treaties, the United States proposed
10 Germany the acceptance by that
nation of such notifications in these
treaties as would make them con-
form with the seamen's act. This
left Germany free either to accept
the notifications, or to announce a
preference for an entire abrogation
of the pacts.
Now Set Forth.
Germanys preferences in the mat
ter have never been set forth, al
though last week a suggestion came
from her through the Swiss minister
here. that the treaties be redrawn.
There is no present intention of
acting upon this suggestion. In view
of the uncertain status of the treaties,
IL was explained today, the United
IL
against the Americans in that coun-
try in violation of the compacts,
would be free herself to disregard
them. and take similar action against
the German subjects still in this coun-
try.