New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
Lansing Holds Vessels Have
Clear Right to Shoot
Unless Warned
May Force Hostilities
Before Congress Meets
Officials Close to President
Still Clinging to Peace
Hopes
By STEVENSON II. EVANS

Washington, March 10.-it Is in
the air that the United States and
the German Empire probably will DO
in a state of war before the special
session of the 65th Congress con-
venes on April Is.
A verbal statement from the State
Department to-day gave impetus to
that feeling. The statements was
that armed American merchantmen
would have the right to fire upon
German submarines on sight. This
is the same right, II was stated, rs
that defined by the State Depart
ment March %, 1915, which said:
A merchantmen entitled TO ex-
ercise the right Of self-protection
may do so when certain OF the at
tack Of an enemy warship, other
wise the exercise Of the right
would be so restricted as to render
it Intellectual.
II was further asserted in o semi
official way that the German procia-
nation of unrestricted submarinS
warfare justified the United States
in directing ships flying its flag 10
assume that Germany did not intend
to observe the duty Of visit and
search and of safeguarding the lives
of passengers and crew before de~
stroying the vessel.
Peace Hope Clings
There is still q group which elinga
to the hope that armed neutrality, sups
plying arms, ammunition and gunncr1
for use against German submarines
and conveys and patrols along sea lanes
in the forbidden zones, will not neees~
sarily be followed by actual war. Men
very close 70 the President hold to this
view. Il is consistent with Mr.. Will
sons own statement of his trust that
"it will not be necessary TO put armed
force anywhere into action"
There was very prompt and emph1tis
denial by Secretary Lansing of a report
that the State Department contemplat-
ed the circulation of an American
White Book, in which German intrigues
and plots were 10 be detailed. 1t was
stated with the utmost positivencss
that this government would do nothing
to stir up American feeling against
Germany. However, this governments
has a great variety Of evidence OF
plots. and could use it If the occasion
arose.
This and other denials of simIiss
nature are pointed to as evidence that
there is every intention TO be as for'
bearing as possible toward Germany,
The group that hopes actual war VIII
rot follow counts much on the Presi~
dents slow movements.
Wants United Nation
The first and larger group is probs
ably much nearer the truth. They in
terpret Mr.. Wilson's hesitation 40
based on his conviction that il will
take time to fuse divided elements OF
America. If actual war must come, the
President has told certain friends, he
wants 10 have behind him a country
in which there is practically no divi-
sion.
There is TO be observed in Washing
ton now-and this is true especially
among the Presidents bitterest enc
mics ard sharpest critics in the Sem
ate-a disposition TO get behind Mr..
Wilson. There is feeling that now
is the time for his most outspoken
opponents to display cordislity and
good will This feeling has grown
enormously in the last two or three
days. Mr.. Wilson's opponents blame
him now just as much as before for
his past mistakes Of leadership, but
for the present they are crying down
criticism.
The things which the Navy Depart
ment is now doing 10 arm American
merchantmen may no. be told. but the
department is moving with all speed
10 carry out the Presidents order. and
it will not be many days before Ameri-
can ships will cease "timidly keeping
TO their home ports
Plans for Congressional action 70
support executive action ain all mat
ters collateral TO the defence Of ouy
merchant marine" are almost entirely
uniformed. So much may happen BE-
fore Congress convenes that officials
declare there 10 small need Of definite
plans. There will be little important
opposition 70 any action necessary 10
make good the assertion Of American
rights.
Since the policy Of the government ID
the past has been not 70 insure vessels
carrying arms and ammunition TO tha
beliigerents, II has been considers4