THE U BOATS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 260, 19 October 1916, Page 5

THE U BOATS.

AMERICA’S ATTITUDE. BERESFORD’S PERTINENT QUESTIONS.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z OABT-R ASSN 1 London, Oct. 18. Lord Beresford, in the House of Lords, asked whether the L T nited States had raised obieetinns tn British cruisers patroiling the American coast and whether the cruisers had been removed m consequence ; also what stens the British Government was taking to prevent submarines sinking traders

Viscount Grey (Foreign Minister), : speaking in the House of Lords for j the first time, read a memorandum Jon the subject of the American protest against British warships patrol--1 ling the coast, showing that the I Americans did not object to the practice on the ground of illegality, but as likely to cause unfriendliness and irritation. Viscount Grey said that although Great Britain contended that according to international law our ships were entitled to operate freely anywhere outside territorial waters, instructions had been sent to warships to meet the views of the United States as far as possible. The Government had impressed British commanders to commit no act liable to cause unnecessary irritation.

Viscount Grey was asked whether it was true that the commander of an American destroyer had acceded t> the request of the U 53 to clear out of the way so that the submarine might have room to blow up a merchant ship. Viscount. Grey replied that he had Bn official information. He assumed that the United States was enquiring into the matter. The issues involved were most important, but until the full facts were known he could not state whether it would be necessary to make official representations to the United States. STATEMENT BY U.S. GOVERNMENT. STRONGEST PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 19, 10.5 a.m.) New York, Oct. 8. Following yesterday’s discussion in the House of Lords on the U 53 activities, the Washington Government announces that stringent precautions are being taken to prevent the transmission of unneutral information to German submarines appearing at American ports. Civilians will probably not be permitted to visit such submarines owing to the growing belief that civilians boarding the U 53 revealed details of the presence of-* merchantmen in the vicinity of Nantucket. The administration officials believe no complications will arise with England in connection with America’s submarine attitude as the regulations prevent Germans from using American ports to secure information and seriously hamper submarine coastal operations against the Allies’ shipping. THE LUSITANIA MURDER. GERMAN NOTE -REJECTED.

(Received 19, 12.45 p.m.) Washington, Oct. 18.

The State Department has announced that the last German memorandum on the sinking of the Lusitania, reiterating the contention that the torpedoing of the liner was justifiable, has not been accepted.