The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-12
US. WILLACTT0
END BLOCKADE
Wilson Formulating Plan to
Guard Ships Now Held
in Port.

WAsHINoToN. Feb. ia definite re-
ply. in action, to the German subma rine
war zone decree is in process Of formu.
lation by the United States.
A policy looking to the liberation OF
the American shipping bottled in Amer.
lean ports has practically been settled
upon. Within a few days. it is expected,
as soon as details can be arranged. the
plan will be set in motion and unless
there is a marked change in the sit
uation the first steps will be taken to
break the apparent deadlock that has
prevailed since the severance OF diplo.
matte relations
Government officials. despite the APP
parent inaction and lack OF decision
since the new decree went into effect,
have regarded the blockade OF American
ports as intolerable. The explanation
offered Of the lack OF any counter move
on the part of this Government has
been that the Administration wished
to take no action which by any con-
struction could be interpreted by Ger
many as an act OF war.
To Assert American Rights
1t was said to-day, however, that even
this desire to avoid all offence to Ger
many and to put upon that country the
responsibility for beginning the war If
war should come would no longer pre-
vent the Administration from asserting
effectively the rights OF American ships
to travel on the high seas.
Coincdent with this declaration OF
policy 1t became known that for several
days Administration officials have been
extending aid to the American Line in
its search for guns with which TO arm
its ships. 1t had been supposed in WASH
ton that the American Line would he
able to purchase them from private
plants. Now that 1t has been found that
all the private plants are tied up with
contracts the whole matter has been
turned over to the Navy Department and
II Is expected that arrangements for
obtaining and mounting the guns will be
completed within n short time.
Commenting on the intention to free
the shipping In American harbors. ono
official said II was not the purpose Of
this Government to submit TO the Ger
man decree and thus allow Germany TO
accomplish indirectly that which II had
announced as its intention TO accomplish
directly through the sinking of ships ~
the barred zone.
There Is general disposition on the
part OF officials to characterize as mere
propaganda the report that Germany
contemplates proposing 20 the United
States an agreement hy which American
vessels may be further safeguarded.
They say they have received no repre-
sentations, formal or informal. Oh the
subject, and that the story evidently
,emanatcd from pro-9erman sources, be-
ing put out az "feeler" TO determine
how the United States would accept such
a proposal.
wish to Hold on Break.
More Importance was given TO the
story, however. by dispatches from Am
sterdam which said that tho Kaiser had
under consideration conference OF his
military and naval leaders for the pur-
pose of discussing whether there might
not be some modification OF the new sub
mhrlne warfare which would make It's
operation less injurious to neutral ship
ping. In the opinion of many in WASH
inston n widespread propaganda has
been instituted to hold of to the latest
possible moment an actual state Of war
between the United states and Germany
How successful IL would be IL such a
plan were undertaken seriously was In
dicated by q State Department Official
who called attention TO the fact that
while II had been suggested that meas
ures might be agreed on to protect
American ships. there had been no an
ON any ONO processing TO
speak for Germany that the so-called
blockade would be abandoned
The institution of the barred zone,
with ruthless and indiscrimira,e sinking
of ships, was the very reason President
Wilson broke off relations, II was said,
and II therefore was the limit Of alb
surdity to imagine that any negotiations
would be entered into by this Govern
ment until the new decree had been re-
voked and American ships could sail In
safety on their lawful errands.
Administration officials do not doubt
that Berlin will try TO make diplo-
matte coup Of this kind. They believe
that the stories Of n move to avert war
have been inspired by persons high In
the councils of the German Government.
They assume there will he further at
tempts along the same line, but they
have said repea tedly that this Govern
ment has determined to enter into no
! discussion until the cause of the break
In relations has been completely re-
moved by Germany.
Pacinsts Welcome Report.
! The report that Gernany is seeking
! TO conclliate the United States has been
taken up by the paclfists as a token that
| Cnr I,ns -i.t.