Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-12
Text of Notes

The following text of the notes was
made public at the susie department
tonight follows:
February 10. 1915.
Tn Secretary o. State has instruct
I'd Ny Gerard al Berlin 70 present Il
Inc German government & note 70 th2
following effect.
The government Of The United
States having faQ its attention direct
I'd 20 the proclamation OF the German
admiralty issued on the fourth OF Feb
ruaTy that the waters surrounding
Great Britain and Ireland including
tic whole OF the English channel are
10 be considered as comprised within
The seat of war; all enemy merchant
vessels found in those waters after
uha 18th instant Will be destroyed al
though il may not always he posi-
bic to save crews and passengers; and
ina; neutral vessels exposed them
selves 10 danger within this zone on
war because by the British govern
meut on the 3lst Of January and u
the contingencies OF nlaretine war
fare. Il may not be possible always u
cECuDi neutral vessels from attacks
intended 10 strike enemy ships feels
il 10 pe us duty 10 call the attention
~ the imperial German government
with sincere respect and the mos
friendly sentiments. hut Very candidly
ana earnestly 70 the very serious pos
si5i!ities Of the course Of action ap-
I,@rtn1iy contemplated under that proc
la.,atiou.
The government OF the Unitea
Sc&res views those possibilities with
such grave concern that il feels il ~
be It's privilege, and indeed its duty
II the circumstances 10 request the
German Imperial government to con-
slGer before action is taken the criti-
"a situation III respect Of the relation
between This country and Germany
which NJ Sht arise were the German,
naval forces 1T carrying out the policy
foresta dOwed in the adnlirltys proc
lamation 70 destroy any merchant yes
sci Of the United States or cause the
death OF American citizens
ajq-t &c Visit ard Search
81 is OF course not TO remind the
German government that the sole right
of beluesrent l.. dealing with neutral
vessels on the high seas is limited 70 visit
and scared, unless q blockade is pro
claimed and erfectirel., maintained
which This government does not under
stand 10 be proposed in this case. Tc
declare or exercise right 10 attack and
destroy any vessel entering q prescribed
area O the nigh sea without first GER
taiflH determining its helliserent nation
ality ana the contraband character Of
its car~o would be an act SO unprece-
dtnted III naval warfare thai this gov
eminent is reluctant 10 believe that the
immortal government OF Germany in this
case coutemplates il as possible. The
suspicion that enemy ships are using
neutral flags improperly can create nc
Jus; presumption that al ships travers-
ing this area are subject 10 the same sus-
pic;0n il is 10 determine exactly such
questions that this government under
have been recognized.
u. s. Not Open TO Criticism
This government has carefully noted
the explanatory statement issued by the
imperial German government al the same
time with the proclamation Of the Ger
y
70 remind the imperial German govern
rnent very respectfully that the govern
,nent OF the United States is open TO none
of tine criticisms for unneutral action for
which the German government believes
the governments Of certain other neutral
nations have laid themselves open; that
the government of the United States has
not consented TO or acquiesced II any
measure which may have beer taken by
the other helligereTt nations in the pres
emf was which operated 10 restrain neu-
traI trade. hut has, or the contrary.
taken in all such matters q position
which warrants il in holding those gov
ernnlents responsible in the proper way
for any untoward effects on American
shipping which the accepted principles
of International law do not justify, and
II therefore regards itself as free in the
nreseut instance 10 take with a clear con-
science and upon accepted principles the
POSITION indicated in this note.
IF the commanders Of German YES
sells of war should act upon the pre-
s11rrntfor that the flag of the United
States was not being used in good
faith and should destroy on the high
seas an American vessel or the lives Of
American citizens, il would be difficult
for the government of the United
States to view the act in any other
light than as an indefensible violation
of neutral rights, which it would be
very hard indeed to reconcile with
the friendly relations now happily
subsisting between the two govern
ments.
U. S. Position
If such a deplorable situation
should arise the Imperial German gov
eminent can readily anDreciHte that