The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-15
CERMANi'S PROPOSAL
~ FLATLY REJECTED
BY UNITED STATES

BY UNITED STATES
Becrciary Lansing, through Swiss Min.
lister. says This Country Cannot Dis
cuss Possible Alteration of kaiser's
Submarine Policy Until German
Government, Renews its Assurances
Given in the Sussex Case and Acts
Upon the Assurances.
Washington, Feb. 12-The United
States has fatty rejected Germany's
offer 10 discuss differences between the
two nations while the ruthless sub
marine campaign is in progress.
In note today to the Swiss minis
ter. who on Saturday presented orally
the German proposal, Secretary Lans-
ing said the United States Docs not
feel il can enter into any discussion
with the German government concern
ing the policy Of submarine warfare
against neutrals which il is now pur-
suing, unless and until the German
government rcnews its assurance Of
the fourth Of May tthe Sussex Note)
and acts upon the assurances"
The state department made public
thc secrotary's reply, together with
memorandum which at Mr. Lansings
suggestion, DR.. Ritter, the Swiss min
lister, had prepared last night, setting
down in writing the suggestion orig
inally transmitted orally. Previously
officials had declined to confirm the
announcement by the Associated Press
Saturday afternoon that such pro-
posal had been delivered by DR.. Ritter.
The Offer and Reply
"The communication presented by
the Swiss minister follows:
Memorandum:
1.-THE Swiss government has been
requested by the German government.
TO say that the latter is now, as before,
willing to negotiate formally or in
formally, with the United States, pro-
vidcd that the commercial blockade
against England will not be broken
thereby.
(Signed) "P. RITTER
"This memorandum was given i'm
mediate consideration and the foreign
reply was dispatched today:
"'Mr. Dear Mr. Minister: | am re-
qucsted by the President to say to you,
in acknowledging the memorandum
which you were kind enough to send to
me on the 18th instant, that the gov
ernment Of the United States would
gladly discuss with the German gov
ernmcnt any questions it might pro
pose for discussion were it to with
draw its proclamation Of the 31st Of
January, in which, suddenly and with +
out previous intimation of any kind, i T
cancelled the assurances which IT haf I
given this government on the fourtl
OF May last; but that il docs rot fec
that IL can enter into any discussion
with the German government concern
ing the policy Of submarine warfare
against ncutrals which it Is now pur
suing, unless and until the Gorma'
government renews its assurances ot
the fourth Of May and acts upon th'
assurances
"No other interchange on this sub
jcct has taken place between this gov
crnment and any other government o.
person"
Think Germany Insinccre H
In view Of the fact that the United I
States has taken the most vigorous
course possible short Of war to de
nounec the ruthless submarine war
fare, officials Of the government regard 3
the German proposal TO negotiate ,
while the campaign is in progress as
utterly insinccrc. From the FIRST tho [
move has been looked upon and resent
cd as a piece Of raganda, designed h
to bccloud the issue and put The x
United States in a false position cf u
bclliecrcney
The question of whether navy eura r
shall he provided Tor American ship +
owners desiring 70 arm their vessels d
FOR defense against sahr arines has ii
been subnlittcd to President Wilson hg w
he state and navy departments. II ii Il
that thc state department
he governments Spokesman on inter r
iatlcnal problems, las recommended Is
llat The guns tc provided h.
There is said to bo ro authority ua f
ler wh.eh tie navy department ceu r
actually uppIy the guns, though the
.re pr.erdrnis fer The lcHirg e.
,cap7as under bond Cor their return d
trder existing lew ctly condemned +
'ans ard stores can he sold by tha ID
.avy. h
!. :. BELGIAN RELIEF n
WORK FITS rTprEIEp H