The Washington herald., 1917-02-11
REPORT CAUSES FURORE.

RESERVES RIGHT TO ARM.
The State Department made IL clear
that the administration reserves tho
full right to arm American merchant
vessels whenever it may deem such
action necessary. This announcement
was made official and was designed to
deny various reported contentious that
neutrals have no right to mount guns
on merchant ships for their defense.
1t was made plain that the United
States will insist upon its right Ia
arm its ships for their protection, no
matter what position other nations
may assume.
No indication was forthoomins,
however, as to whether this announce
ment was preliminary to the mount
ing OF guns on the ships Of the Ameri-
can Line, now held in New York. /,
was made clear that the right of ship
owners TO arm their vessels had been
plainly set forth in statement. to the
owners by the department, and the
department said yesterday they would
adhere strictly to this position.
shipping Is Big Issue.
1t was recognized that the question OF
American shipping was yesterday the CEN
ter Of the international situation. Con-
gress was confronted with the issue
through resolutions introduced by Repre-
sentative Plat, OF New York, Demanding
information as TO the administrations po-
sition as TO arming American ships, and
as to what steps had been taken or pro-
posed TO protect American shipping. and
BY Senator McCumber demandinr TO
know what will constitute the overt act
upon which President Wilson VIII base
his next move. During debate on the
naval appropriation bfll IN the Hcusa.
Republican members, led by Minority
Leader Mann. discussed the entire cues
ton of submarine activity.
The debate was directed particularly
toward the question of whether the po-
sidon now assumed by the United States
toward submarine warfare would not on
crate, in the future, to hamper this coun-
try in its naval operations In the event
OF a war. Representative Cooper, Of Wis
consin. ranking Republican member Of
the House Foreign Affairs COMMITTEES,
referred particularly TO the possible de-
yelopments of war which might Occur
Won't Discuss Armament.
The State Department and the Navy
Department yesterday fatty declined TO
discuss the question of srrning Amer.
can ships or TO outline the plans of the
administration for protecting Anne-icsu
shipping in the event of further clash
with Germany.
The administration was somewhat re-
lieved yesterday by advices received
through Or. Paul Ritter. the Swiss
Minister, that Ambassador Gerard. his
stan. and some fifty other Americana
would leave Berlin late last night for
Zurich. Later. the department was in-
formed that the American party would
reach Zurich today and that II would
be met at the Swiss frontier bv Arner4-
can Minister to Switzerland stovsn
In this connection the State Depart
ment took occasion TO announce that
Ambassador Won Bernstorff had been sc-
corded every possible means Of com
r1unicating with his government bots
directly and through the Swiss Legation,
since the break between the two
countries. A published statement credit
ed to the German under secretary for
foreign affairs that Won Bernstorn had
been. prevented from Forwarding dis
patches to Germany. was categoricaiiy
denied
Envoy Departs Wednesaay
Ambassador Won Bernstorf win leave
New York on Wednesday, it was an
rounced. A special trip OF the Scandi-
navian liner Frederick VIII has been ar
ranged. and extraordinary precautions for
the protection Of the dismissed Ambasaa-
dor and his party have been taken.
The report OF a peace proposal from
Germany found the administrator in the
midst OF preparations FOR sn esentusiity.
and it caused a profound sensation. SEQ