The Spectator., 1915-05-18

Recalling the humane and enlight- ened attitude hitherto assumed b. the imperial German government in matters of international ripht, and particularly with regard to the free dom of the seas; having learned to recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of in ternational obligation as always en- gagged upon the side of justice and nu- manity; and having understood the in structions of the imperial German government to it's naval commanders to be upon the same plane of humare action prescribed by the naval codes of other nations. the government of the United States was loath to believe it cannot now bring itself to believe that these acts so absolutely con trary to the rules, the practices and the spirit of modern warfare could have the countenance or sanction of that great government. It f'els it to be it's duty therefore to address the imperial German government concern ing them with the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that it is not mistaken in expecting action on the part of the imperial German gov ernment, which will correct the un. favorable impressions which have been created and vindicate once more the position of that government with regard to the sacred freedom of the seas.
 No War Zone Rights Over Americans.
 The government of the United States has been appraised tlat the i'm perial German government consider ed themselves to be obliged by the extraordinary circumstances of the ed by their adversaries in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to adopt methods of retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary meth ods of warfare at sea in the proclama- tion of a war zone from which they have warned neutral ships to keep away. This government has already taken occasion to inform the imperial i German government that It cannot admit the adoption of such measures l or such a warning of dangers to ope- rate as in any degree an abbrevia- 1 ton of the rights of American ship masters or of American citizens l bound on lawful errands as passen gers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality; and that it must hold the i imperial German government to q strict accountability for any infringe ment of those rights, intention or in cidental.
 Tt does not understand the im- i Dorial German government to question those rights. It assumes on the con i trary that the imperial government accepts, as of course, the ruie that the 1 lives of noncombatants, whether they
 be of neutral citizenship or citizens of one of the nations at war, cannot ] lawfully or rightfully be put in ieo- pardy by the capture or destruction of an unarmed merchantmah and rec 1 Ognizes also, as all other natio' do. she obligation to take the usual pre- ] caution to ascertain whether 2 sup posed merchantman is in fact of belig- ! ecent nationality or Is in act carry 1 ing contraband of war under a neutrHl i flag
 Protest Against Submarine Warfare.
 "The government of the United States. therefore, desires to call the attention of the imperial German gov
 4r
 to the fact that the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the destruction of com merce without desregarding those
 rules of fairness, reason, justice and
 humanity which all modern opinion
 regards as imperative. It is practi-
 cal1v impossible for the officers of .
 submarine to visit mercl antman at sea and examine her papers and car 20. It Is practically impossible for them to make a prize of her and if they cannot put nri5e crew on hoard Of her they cannot sink her without leaving her crew and all on board of her to the mercy of the sea in her small boats These racts, it is under stood. the imperial German govern ment frankly admits. We arc inform
 ed that in the instances of which we have spoken time enough for even that poor measure of safety was not
 given and in at least two of the cases
 cited not so much as q warning WIS received. Manifestly subma inee can
 not be used against merchantmen. as
 the last few weeks have shown with
 out an inevitable violation of many
 sacred principles of justice and hu-
 manity.
 Will Uphold Rights of Americans.
 American citizens act within their
 indisputable rights in taking their
 ships and in travelling wherever theil
 legitimate business calls them upon
 the high seas and exercise those
 right in what should be the well jus
 tlficd confidence that their lives will