Show DECREE MAY BE OPPOSED IN US U.S. Question Now Arises as to o V hether Guns Are for foi for f Defense Defens or Attack f By Press WASHINGTON Feb W 12 12 ih the arrival late th this s afternoon of t the lC text of Germanys Germany's decree tha thai she will sink armed merchant vessels without warning twp tup opinions came to the surface In Instate iii the state department on the question o othe or orthe the United Sta States es assenting to such warfare While the department leans toward recognizing the validity of the German German Ger Ger- man stand the opposite view was d de developing positive strength due ue to the apparent difficulty of deciding whether r ra a gun mounted on a merchantman is for defense or attack atta The department has held that one gun usable usable- only for tor defense Is allowable The strength of ot the viewpoint opposed to the has the basis balSis also that for the United to admit such a change of rules while war wary war is going on would be an act i Germany goes into Its argument with witha a mass of detail For fifteen typewritten ten pages the position th that altered conditions con con- and made changed rules roles of ot warfare imperative is buttressed with quotations from International law i Secretary Lansing will study the text carefully before he makes It public Austria's announcement on on the same samel subject probably will reach the department depart j ment tomorrow |