Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-02-12
But Unofficial British Feeling
Is That Protest Was Un-
necessary.
SAY EMBASSIES COULD
HAVE SETTLED MATTER
Expected That Britain Will
Deny AIIegations-Washing-
ton Is Expectant.

her rights and privileges is the con-
struetion today placed on the Ameri-
! can note to Germany and Great
! Britain. Although the complete text
reached here too late for extensive
! comment by the morning papers,
! here is no question that the vigorous
language used in both communica.
tions came as a distinct surprise to
! the majority Of British diplomats.
There is a general disposition to re-
sent the action Of the American state
I department n assuming, without first
asking for official information, thai
the British foreign office has sane
| toned the misuse Of neutral flags. )"
As a matter af fact, the majority Of
Englishmen are arguing that mas.
much as England has always allowed
4 the use of her flag by a merchantmen
seeking to escape capture, she should
have the same rights. We're the
American note not accompanied by
the present strong language used ia
the note to Germany, it is believed it
would arouse severe irritation. Bun
there is general feeling that Of tho
two the kaiser gets the worst Of II,
and this brings satisfaction TO the
average Englishman.
However, there is no Disgusting the
fact that a strong anti-American
feeling is growing throughout Eng
land. Having its basis in the belief
that the United States should openly
Xpress sympathy with the cause Of
the allies, it has been added to by the
original protest against England's
assumption OF domination of the seas
and the latest note can be expected
to add to it.
Think Move Was Unnecessary.
The majority of English officials in
sist that whether the foreign off1cs
sanctioned the use of the American
4 flag by certain mail-carrying English
steamers or not, the present protesl
need not have begn made IN r1Is man
ner that 1t was. They take the posi-
/ ton that the attention OF the British
government could have been called
to the matter through diplomatic
channels and without making the
text Of the note public And the as
sumption admittedly made on news
paper reports, that the foreign Office
has officially sanctioned the use OF
the flag, is characterized as typically
American.
1t is understood that so soon as he
has considered the note, Sir Edward
Grey, the British foreign minister,
will call 1t to the attention of the
cabinet. 1t will cause no surprise if
the government should disavow the
allegations contained in the letter
and place responsibility for the use
Of the American flag on n 'gh officials
Of the steamship lines. although it is
Of course, not certain.
WASHINGTON, Feb. i2.-The note
to Germany warning against menace
to American lives and property in
the new naval war zone about the
British Isles and the note to Great
Britain pointing out the danger to
neutral shipping by any general use
OF the American flag over belligerent
merchant vessels were discussed at
today's cabinet meeting, but all ad-
ministration officials refrained from
comment upon them. Secretary Bryan
would say no more than that the
United States had not yet been Of
papers in London and Berlin.
Publication of the text of the two
documents produced widespread
comment among officials, members
OF Congress and diplomatists, most
Of whom regarded them as the most
emphatic expression from the Wash.
ington government on the conduct of
belligerents during the present war
and presaging, perhaps, further rep
resentations on what seem to the
American government violations of
the rule of warfare.
Germany has now been informed
that the imperial German government
will be held ITO strict accounta bility"
by the United States for any acts
wnIch would cause the loss of Amer
lean vessels or the death Of American
citizens.
Great Britain was similarly advised
that a general misuse by her vessels
of the American flag TO escape the
consequences of war would cast doubt
on the real character of vessels en-
titled to fly the Stars and Stripes and
thus impose, it would seem, "a
measure of responsibility" on the
British government if American YES
sells or lives were lost by the carry
ing out of the German proclamation
of submarine warfare"
The full text of the notes as made
public at the State Department fol-
lows
THE secretary Of state has in
structed Ambassador Gerard at Ber-
lin to present to the German govern
ment a note 70 the following effect.
THE government of the United
States, having had its attention di-
rected to the proclamation Of the
German admiralty, issued on the
4th of February, that the waters
surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland, including the whole of the
English Channel, are to be considered
as comprised within the seat of war;
that all enemy merchant vessels
found in those waters after the eigh-
teenth instant will be destroyed, al
though it may not always be pos
sible to save crews and passengers;
and that neutral vessels expose them
selves to danger within the zone Of
war because, in view Of the misuse
Of neutral flags said to have been or
dered by the British government on
the thirty-f1rst of January, and of the
may not be possible always to exempt
neutral vessels from attacks intended
to strike enemy ships, feels 1t TO be
its duty to call the attention OF the
imperial German government, with
sincere respect and the most friendly
sentiments, but very candidly and
earnestly, to the very serious pos