The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-12

: Of a neItrai country by a belligerent
vessel in order to escape capture or
attack by an enemy.
Assuming that the foregoing re-
8 uorts are true. the Government of the
United States, reserving for future
consideration the legality and pro-
priety of the deceptive use of the flag
of neutral power In any case for
the purpose OF avoiding capture. de-
sircs very respectfully to point out to
His Brittnnnic Majesty's Government
the serious consequences which may
result 10 American vessels and Ameri-
can citizens if this practice is con-
tinued.
Some serious Consequences.
The occasional nse OF the flag of a
neutral CT any enemy, under the stress
of immediate pursuit, and to deceive
an approaching enemy. which appears
by the press reports to be represented
as the precedent and justification used
To support this action. seenr TO this
Government a very different thing
from an explicit sanction by a bellig-
erent government for its merchant
ships generally 10 fly the nag of
neutral power within certain portion
E the high seas which are presumed
f 10 be frequented with hostile warships,
The formal declaration of such a
policy of general misuse of q neutrafs
nag jeopardizes the vessels of the
neutral visiting those waters in Il
peculiar degree 10y raising the pre-
sumption that they are OF beiligerent
nationality regardless Of the flag
which they mgv carry
"ln view q the announcec purpose
of the Ger admiralty to engage in
active naval operations In certain de-
limited sea areas adjacent to
the coasts Of Great Britain and Ire
lant, the government of the United
States would view with anxious So
licitudc any general use Of the Tag
Of the United States by British YES
sells traversirg those waters. A poll
cy such as the one which his ma.ies-
TVS Eoycrnment is said to intend to
adopt. would. If the declaration of
ne German admiralty be put in force.
It seems clear. afford no protection
TO British vessels. while 1t would be
"a serious and constant menace to the
lives ana vessels of American citi-
zens
Must Cease Use of Flag.
THE government Of the United
states. therefore trusts that MS >s..-
jesty's government viii do all in it's
power to restrain vessels of British
nationality from the use of the fiaE
of tho United states in the sea area
defined in the German declaration.
since such practice would greatly en-
danger he vessels of a friendly power
navigating these waters, and would
even seem 70 impose upon the govern
ment Of Great Britain a measure OF
responsibility fer the loss of Ameri-
can lives and vesse1s In case or an
attack by "a German naval forcS.
GA will immediately press upon
his majesty's government the grave
concern which this government feels
i IN thu circumstances In regard to the
safety OF American vessels and lives
in ne war zone declared by the Ger
. man admiralty.
You may add that this r,vernment
TX making earnest representations to
. the German government in regard to
the danger 10 American vessels and
citizens II the declaration of the Ger
man admiralty is put into effect
The two notes were dispatched and
made public simultaneously by the
state Department for the purpose of
eSta olishlng before the world the
fact that the United States il merely
ehd"avorine 10 maintain American
rights in whatever quarter the- NAV
appear to he infrinsed upon II IS
hoped 10 impress upon all parties to
the conflict and their sympatbiaers
b ne lact that this government is pre-
/ serving tho best neutrality, and will
i ne as quick to protest again an in
| arrangement upon It's right as a neutral
/ ny one s4de as by another. It is an
tlclpAted however. in view Of the Sc
VERIFY OF the German note--rnads
necessary by the drastic nature 6t
/ GERMANY announced Intentions
, that il will be followed in this coun.
. Try " renewed outbursts of hyphe.
/ mated Americans against the present
administration.
WIN tonntcnancc No Accidents.
In quarters supposedly Well inform
% as Co the policies of the German
Government. there were further in
ttfhatl9nS today that American vessels
may expect 10 meet destruction IN
BRUSH waters if British vessels are
iouhu lying The American flage The
note leaves absolutely no doubt as to
IN" view the United States Govern
mont takeS OF such threats Its asser.
lions make 1t unmistn keabIy certain
that this Government does. not for a
moment recognize the right of Ger
many to assume that the American
nag or vessel in British waters
covers British ship. which may
therefore, be destroyed II also makes
1t clear that the United States view
ADMITS Of no accidents to American
shipping in the prescribed zone.
nat effect The two notes will Ynvs
upon the government to watch they
are addressed Is n matter of much
speculation fere, 1t is generally ps,.
ieted that the British Govcrnmen,
VIII promptly acquiesce in the Ameri :
can request that IT discourage the use
tf the American flag as Disguise for.
~ shipping As a r,atter ~ fact this
concession I" the wishes of the united
states would cost Great britain ar
british maritime Interests nothing
rs IT rs generally conceded that the
american nag can he of little use a. q
disguise, as there are 80 few vessels
lying that flag In British waters none
OF whicl at all resembles the British
liners.
No information has been received
mere aHordirg the basis for more thai
sness-work as to what Germany's re-
Spouse VIII be to the note comr1unicst :
ed to her At first, from the tone OF
some of the German press comment.
1t was thought BY officials here that
considerable modification or the In
tehiions inpiied in the admiralty de /.
cree might be lnoked for. Subsequent
statements in both officials and unof
hcial quarters, however. have given
Else to the impression that tho Ger
mans are II. the mood to undertake.
pre- ctse,y the kind of operations indi-
caied IN the initial announcement.
I Calling the Bluff
In some quarters Il Is held that the
German decree is largely bluff. and