Connecticut western news., 1917-02-15
! 0Ul.D OPEN il S.
 PORTS D ALLIES
Maryland Sanai0r Offers PraG-
 tiCaI War Move.
ARMlNG AMERICAN SHIPS.

President Considering Plans to Legal Tze Measure to Protect Both Passen- ger and Freight Liners Sailing Un- der United States F!ag-Navy Has Plenty of Guns For Them - Wilson FIatIy Refuses to Negotiate Further With Germany.
 move that would amount to practical declaration of war against Germany has been made by senator willard Salisbury, Democrat, or Mary Eand, in q resolution designed to em- bower the president to throw down the neutrality bars and open all United States ports to warShipS of the entente hIlies He said this might enable this s0yeInment. without a declaration of War, to assist in preventing violations tDf rights at sea by giving assistance to Those at present engaged ill combating These violations"
 The resolution went to the commit tae on foreign relations, of which Sen- ksor William J. StOEC of Missouri Is Chairman. Senator Stone announced hc was unalterably opposed to the psan.
 May Demand Prisoners Release.
 .rhe administration is still concerned hvnr the situation of the Ameri'an sail Nrs captured by German sea raiders srom several British ships and taken n ko Germany on board the captured British steamer YarrOwdale.
 There has been no demand on Ger many for their release as yet, but this btep may be taken if it is shown they Ire unlawfully detained as prisoners Inf war.
 Refusing fatly to resume negotla- lions with Germany unless and untll khe German submarine pledges are kDce more in force and acted upon President Wilson has taken up the problem of protecting American com j kncrce at sea.
 Tn an official statement the state de. Da rtment made public a suggestion From Germany through Dr. Paul Kit her, the Swiss minister, that the Ger haan government was willing to re- hume negotiations with the United States The same statement outlined An unequivocal refusal by the United States to discuss the submarine ques tsun with Germany under present con- kitions.
 The memorandum of the state de bartment was clear. forceful and to the point It made clear the determi- hation of President Wilson to abide by tlae terms of the ultimatum to Ger tnany laid down in his speech announc- thfg the break between the two cOun- tries It promptly and briefly put an end to present hope for any informal Negotiations to relieve the present te,ise relations between the two na- &i0ns and made it clear that only Amaodification of Germany's announced ruthless campaign on the sea can pre- vent the president from carrying out Dis determination to ask congress for authority to use the military power of the government If American lives or American ships go down in the Ger Aoan sea war"
 Arming the Ships.
 Meantime the pressing question of guarding the lives of American citizens sn, the sea became the center of ad- ninistration concern. With American scean traffic practically suspended, the
  Ehe necessity for immediate action, and Gle state department and the navy de, partment laid before the president all of the data on the question.
 Complete plans have been made for protecting American vessels and only question of legality and policy re- mains to be settled. It was suggested that the president may take the "bull by the horns" and lay the entire sub- eect before congress with request For specific authorization to man mer- thant ships with navy guns and gun hers. This, it was learned, would be practically equivalent to fulfilling the presidents promise that he would de- nand authority to protect American nights in the event of an overt act by Germany. It would likewise prove more forceful as showing that the whole power of the government was behind the move, it was stated.
 In this connection it was accepted es significant that the state depart ment announced that the American consular and diplomatic officials abroad h1Ye been asked to make full and complete reports on every submarine attack on vessels carrying Americans. Fhe statement that the cumulative ef- Rect of continued minor attacks on American rights at sea might consti- > f-?t" the overt act'' required by the president was made by high officials some time ago.
 Proffer That Was Rejected.
 The state department statement mak- haS public the exchange of memoranda as to renewing negotiations was uniuue sn form and showed clearly the signif- canoe the department attached to the Incident. It read:
 In view of the appearance in the news papers of Feb. Il of a report t! at Ger many was initiating neRotiatf tfnue ,,,;+h + +L .