Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-14

pDSefyeQ Win growing concern, us
tress, and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight
ened attitude hitherto assumed b!
the Imperial German Government il
matters of international right, ant
particularly with regard to the free
dom of the seas; having learned t.,
recognize the German views and tn,
German influence in the field of in
! ternational obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side of justice ant
humanity; and having understood
the instructions of the Imperial Ger
man Government to its naval com
manders to be upon the same plane
of humane action prescribed by tht
naval codes of other nations, the
Government of the United States wa:
loath to believe-it can not now bring
itself to believe-that these acts, SC
absolutely contrary to the rules. the
practices, and the spirit of modern
warfare, could have the countenancc
of sanction Of that great Govern
ment. 1t feels it to be its duty, there.
fore, to address the Imperial German
Government concerning 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 Government
which will correct the unfortunate
impressions which have been created
and vindicate once more the posi-
ton of that Government with regard
to the sacred freedom of the seas.
The Government of the Unitec
States has been apprised that the
Imperial German Government con-
sidered themselves to be obliged by
the extraordinary circumstances OF
the present war and the measure a,
dopted by their adversarles in seek
ing to cut Germany off from all com
merce. to adopt methods OF retalla
tion which 60 much beyond the or,
binary methods Of warfare at sea
in the proclamation of u war zon'
from which they have warned neu
trails ships to keep away. This Gov
ernment has already taken occasion
to inform the Imperial German Gov
that it cannot admit the
adoption Of such measures OF sucf
a warning Of danger IS opsrato as
in any degree an abbreviation OF the
rights of American shipmasterS o.
of American citizens bound on law
full errands as passengers on mer
chant ships Of belligerent nationality
and that it must hold the lmperia
German Government to strict ac
countability for any infringement oi
those rights, Intentional or Incidental
1t does ot.understand: the lmperia!
German Government %to question
those rights. 1t assumes, on the cons
trary, that the Imperial Government
accept as of course, the rule thai
the lives of noncombatant$. whether
they, be,of neutral citizens pl. citizens
of zone :of the nations at war,cannoi
lawfully or rightfully be put il
Jeopardy of the capture or destruc'
tion of an unarmed merchantmen,
and recognize also, as all other ma
,tions do, the obligation toE take the
usual precaution of visit afEt, search
to ascertain whether. suspected
merchantmen is in fact OF belllge'
rent nationality or is in ia r carry.
ing contraband of war under a neu-
tral flag.
The Government of the United
States, therefore: desires to cali at
tention of the Imperial German Gov
ernment with the utmost oearnest'
ness to the fact that the objection &
their present method of attach
againts the trade of their enemies
lies in the practical imposslbillty oi
employing submarines in the des-
t,uction of commerce without dlsre-
pardine those rules of fairness, rea-
son, justice and humanity, which al
modern opinion regards as lrnpera
tive. 1t is practically Impossible to'
the officers of submarine to Visit
a merchantmen at sea and examine
her papers and cargo. 1t is prac-
tically impossible for them to MAKE
a prize of her; and, if they can not
put a prize crew on board OF her.
thew can not sink her without leaving
her crew and all on board Of ner:
to the mercy of the sea in her small!
boats. These facts it is understood
the Imperial German Government
frankly admit. We are Informed
that in the instance Of which we have
s,olen time enough for even that