The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-16
Germany's Latest Overture Re.
jected by Lansing
CONDEMNS SUBMARINES USE
Kaiser Wanted to Continue War on
hipping-Looked Like Ruse
to EntangIe the United
States.

]
apparently intended 10 draw It into
an arrangement with Germany which
would amount 10 a compromise OIL
the principles involved in the action
of President Wilson in Bevering rela-
tions with that government.
BY direction OF the President, Sec
retary Lansing notified the SWISS
minister here that the informal pro-
posal OF Germany submitted on Sat
urday by the minister inviting ex-
changes to- arrange modification OF
the German submarine blockade pol
icy could not be accepted until the
blockade order was withdrawn ana
the German government renewed It's
broken pledges to sink no neutral
merchant vessels without warning
and without provision for the saiety
Of passengers and crews.
The reply OF the United state was
short and 10 the point. There was no
effort on the part Of the secretary OF
state to indulge in fine writing or 10
elaborate the attitude OF his govern
ment In straightforward, busi-
nesslike way the German government
was told through the Swiss minister
! that its suggestion was not accept
able to the United States for the rea-
sons given. If there is basis FOR the
surmse that the German proposal
was intended to place the United
! States i'm an embarrassing position
| by compelling it TO reject what
| seemed to be an effort TO prevent
war. the ruse was successful in that
It produced the rejection
But opinion in Washington is in
/ clined to put the feather in the cap
of the administration in announcing
boldly that 1t would not compromise
on the principles laid down in Presi-
dent Wilson's address OF Feb. In
which he notified Congress that he
had directed that relations with Ger
many be severed.
In some respects the answer Of
the administration to the German
suggestion is regarded as "A document
n important as the address OF Presi-
dent Wilson notifying Congress that
relations with Germany had been
broken. The main Importance lies in
the fact that the answer disposes or
reports that President Wilson was
looking for some way of compromis-
ing the critical trouble between the
United States and Germany so as to
prevent the entrance OF this govern
ment into the great war. mo com
promise" is the position Of the Pres
ident. Germany must abandon her
new policy of relentless submarine
warfare or remain on bad terms with
the United States, with all that this
severance Of relations means to the
kaiser's government. Even if Ger
many should abandon the new policy.
the United States government would
not be willing to resume friendly re-
lations until it had received renew
al OF the pledge given on the demand
of the President after the channel
liner Sussex was sunk last year. The
ITeSluenl is stunning PAT.
Germany's proposal for a reatlirma-
tion OF the old Prussiau-American
treaties, with a long list of added
clauses to modernize and extend pro-
visions relating to the treatment or
enemy residents in case Of war. has
been transmitted formally to the
state department by Or. Paul Ritter.
This is the proposition which former
Ambassador Gerard refused to con-
slider when the German foreign office.
after the United States had broken
relations. sent it to him in the form
OF a protocol with the intimation that
If he did not attach his signature
Americans in Germany might be held
IA hostages to insure good treatment
of Germans in this country.
Most important among the new
provisions suggested by Germany is
one expanding the exemption from
seizure in case of war between the
two countries of merchants and their
effects into an exemption specifically
mentioning enemy ships which are in
port at the time OF the outbreak or
war and which either must ne left
free In port or given safe condrct To
their own ports. presumably even in
face OF a blockade conducted by hos
tile governments. Also sections are
added forbidding internment or re-
strictlons upon the liberty or freedom
OF movement OF enemy nationals. and
reafTlrming the old provisions allow.
ing merchants nine months To close
up their business and depart, guaran-
teeing the inviolability OF patents. In
part the spirit OF the old treaties has
already been adhered to by the United
States. Official statements have been
issued at the Presidents direction
declaring that German war-bound
ships here would not be seized OF
used. even in case OF war, and that
bank deposits and other personal
property OF Germans would be i'm.
mune.