The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-13
COMPLETING PLANS
FOR DEFENSE OF
AMERICAN SHIPPING
Possible That Naval Guns Nav
Be Mounted on Merchant
men for Their Protection.
LaE gillette Introduces Reselu-
ton to Oppose Aiming Ships

Washington, Feb. l2.--Declin-
il- itatiy to resume negotiations
with Germany unless and nm.
tli the German submarine
pledges are once more in force
and acted upon" President VII.
son tonight took up the prob
lem of protecting American COM
mcrce at sea. In an official state
ment. the state department made
public suggestion from Germany
through Minister Paul Ritter. the
Swiss minister, that the German
government was willing to re-
sumo nFg citations with the Uni
ted States. The same statement
outlined an unequiyocal refusal
by the United States to discuss
the submarine question with Ger
many under present conditions.
The memorandum of the state de.
parfment was clear. forceful and to
the point 1t made clear the de-
termination OF President Wilson to
abide by the terms of the ultimatum
to Germany laid down In his speech
announcing the break between the
two countries. It promptly and brief
ly put an end TO present hope for
any informal negotiations between
Germany ana the United States, and
made il clear that only a modification
Of Germany's announced ruthless
campaign on the sea can prevent the
president from carrying out his de-
termination to ask congress for au-
thorlty 20 use the military power OF
the government. IL American lives
or American ships'' go down In the
German sea warfare
Meantime the pressing question of
guarding the lives of American citi-
zens who 90 down TO the sea In ships
became the center OF administration
concern With American ocean traf-
fiC practically suspended the presi-
dent ard his advisers recognized the
necessity for immediate action. and
the state department and the navy
department laid before the president
all al the data on the question. The
problem was put squarely before the
administration in a telegram sent to-
dd& by Z. y : FRANKLIN head of
the American line, who set forth that
he had been unable Ia secure guns
and gunnerS to protect his ships. AMI
asked that the navy department aid
him \ conflict Of opinion as to the
legality Of putting navy guns and gun
ners on the ships between the state
dc partment and the navy department
resulted in the matter going direct to
the president.
Questions of law and Policy.
Complete plans have been made for
protecting American vessels, ana only
a question Of legality and policy re-
mains To- bc settled II was sugges-
"a tonight that the president may
take the ''hul by the horns" and lay
the entire subject before congress with
e request for specific authorization to
man merchant ships with navy guns
,4Qd GuuuerS This. II was pointed
out would be practically equivalent
70 fulfilling the presidents promise
that he would demand authority to
protect American rights in the event
Of an overt act by Germany It would
likewise prove more forCefui as show
ine that the whole power of the gov
eminent WAS behind the move II was
stated
IN this connection it was accepted
as significant that the lite depart
ment announced that American con-
sular and diplomatic officials abroad
have been asked TO make full and
complete reports on every submarine
attack on vessels carrying Americans.
The statement that cumulative minor
attacks on American rights at sea
quired by the president, was made by
high officials some time ago,
The state departments statement
making public the exchange OF memo
randa as TO renewing negotiations was
unique in form. and showed clearly
the significance which the state de-
partment attached to the incident It
read:
~ to German Negotiations.
In view of the appearance in the
newspapers of February IL, OF re-
port that Germany was Initiating ne
gotiations with the United States in
regard To submarine warfare. the de-
partment of state makes the follow
ing announcements:
"A suggestion was made orally 10
the. department At state Late. SATURDAY.
afternoon by the minister Of Switzer-
land that the German government il
willing to negotiate with the United
States, provided that the commercial
blockade against England would not
be interfered with. At the request ~
the secretary Of state this Suggestion
was made in writing and presented ~
him by the SWISS na4ninf1H n nuE
,gs M Sss S33, n