Show UNARMED SHIPS SAFE FROM IT ARMED merchantmen SUBJECT TO destruction BY GERMAN submarines IN FUTURE gar carmany bany declares assurances civi given n in the lusitania Luel tania agreement regarding warfare have not been modified T germany in a formal note presented hy count von bern linsing on monday reiterates a insurances isu rances regarding the fu tire conduct of sub submarine warfare given jn in the lusitania case declares those assurances have not been modi fled by the memorandum setting forab its intention to treat armed merchant men of 0 the entente allies as auxiliary cruisers after midnight february 29 and attempts to justify the issuance of 0 the memorandum by presenting evi dence and assertions designed to prove that the british government has instructed merchantmen to use their armament for purposes of attack in violation of assurances given to the united states later it wac war said at the state de vart artra ment ent that while the united states stood unalterably for the right of mer chant ships to carry guns for defense it was not now and never had been contending that americans could travel with immunity on ships having orders to act offensively it was indicated dica ted that although secretary lans lug lilt was not prepared at this time to accept as conclusive the allegations of germany in regard to the confidential instructions ela claimed lined to hive been given to british sea captains it if the claims were sustained the fait fatt would have an important bearing upon the future atti attitude of alls government |