Middletown transcript., 1917-02-17
u. S. REFUSES +. :.
TO NEGOTIATE
Turns Down Overture From Ger
many Made Through Swiss.
PL AIMING TO ARM U. S. SHIPS
State Department Recommends That
Guns Be Provided For Merchant
men-Germans Dust American
Relief Commission From
Belgium.

| WaShingtOn.-The United states mas
fatty rejected Germany's offer to dis
cuss differences between the two ma
tions while the ruthless submarine
campaign is in progress.
In q note to the Swiss Minister, who
presented orally the German proposal,
Secretary Lansing said the United
States "does not feel that 1t can enter
into any discussion with the German
Government concerning the policy of
submarine warfare against neutrals
which it is now pursuing, unless and
until the German Government renews
its assurances of the fourth of May
| (the Sussex note) and acts upon the
assurances"
The State Department made public
the Secretary's reply, together with a
memorandum which, at Mr.. Lansing S
suggestion, DR.. Ritter, the Swiss Min
| lister, had prepared, setting in writing
the suggestion originally transmitted
! orally.
Text Of Communication Exchanged.
The State Department gave out a
statement as follows:
''In view of the appearance in the
newspapers of February II of report
that Germany was initiating negotia-
tions with the United States in regard
to submarine warfare, the Department
of State makes the following state
ment:
"Suggestion was made orally to the
Department of State late Saturday
afternoon by the Minister of Switzer-
land that the German Government is
| willing to negotiate with the United
States, provided that the commercial
blockade against England would not be
interfered with. At the request of the
Secretary of State, this suggestion was
made in writing and presented to him
by the Swiss Minister Sunday night.
The communication is as follows:
Memorandum: The Swiss Govern
ment has been requested by the Ger
man Government to say that the lat
ter is now, as before, willing to ne
gotiate, formally or informally, with
the United States, provided that the
commercial blockade against England
will not be broken thereby.
p. RITTER
"This memorandum was given i'm
mediate consideration and the follow
ing reply was dispatched:
"'My Dear Mr.. Minister: 1 am re-
quested 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
Government Of the United States
would gladly discuss with the German
Government any questions it might
propose for discussion were it to with
draw it's proclamation of the 31st of
January, in which, suddenly and with
out previous intimation of any kind,
1t Cancelled the assurances which it
of May last; but that it does not feel
that it can enter into any discussion
with the German Government concern
ing the policy of submarine warfare
against neutrals which it is now pur-
suing unless and until the German
Government renews its assurances of
the 18th of May and acts upon the
assurance
mo other interchange on this sub
ject has taken place between this Gov
ernment and any other government or
person"
The question whether navy guns
shall be provided for American ship
owners desiring to arm their vessels
for defense against submarines has
been submitted to President Wilson by
the State and Navy Departments 1t
Is understood that the State Depart
ment, the Governments spokesman on
international problems, has reco,-.
mended that the guns be provided.
Relief Commission Ousted.
Expulsion by the German military
authorities of the American Commits
sion for Relief in Belgium and North
ern France, after it's two and a half
years Of devoted service, during which
the greatest and most sustained relief
work in history was built up, was Off
cially reported to the State Depart
ment in telegram from Ambassador
Page In London. The news was re-
ceived here with profound regret, the
development being regarded as one of
the most deplorable of the many de-
plorable results which have flowed
from Germany's announcement of un-
restricted submarine warfare on Jan
uary 81.