Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-02-12
VIGOROUS NOTES
Of UNITED STATES
Berlin and London Told
American Commerce
Must Not Suffer
HOSTILITY TO THE U. S.
Plain Intimations That This Country
Will Hold Belligerents Responsi-
bic for Overt Acts.

London, Feb. l2.--that the Oniteu
States intends to protect fully all oI
hel, rights and privileges is the con,
struction today placed on the Amer
lean notes to Germany and Great
Britain.
Although the complete text reach
ed here too late for extensive COM
ment by the morning papers, there
is no question that the vigorous Ian
guage used in both communications
came as distinct surprise to the
majority of British diplomats.
There is general disposition to
resent the action Of the American
State Department in assuming, with
out first asking for official informa-
ton, that the British foreign office
has sanctioned the misuse Of neutral
flags"
AS a matter Of fact, the majority
of Englishmen are arguing that mas
much rs England has always al
owed the use fher flag by mer-
chairman seeking to evade capture
she should have the same right. Were
the American note not accompanied
by the present strong language used
IN the note TO Germany, it is believed
it would arouse severe irritation.
But there is a general feeling that
fthe two. the Kaiser( yets the worst
OF it, an dthis brings satisfaction 10
the average Englishman.
However, there is no Disgusting the
act that strong anti-American feel
ing is growing throughout Eng
land.
washington, Feb 12-The texts of
the notes dispatched by the United
states to .sthe governments Of Great
britain. and Germany have been
made public and prove TO be the
host vigorous assertions of the right
Of America as a neutral made by the
government.
In argument, both notes are quito
what has been indicated as the views
Of the United States. but the COM
munlcation to Germany is consider
able more severe in tone than had
heen generally anticipated So. strong
are the representations Ambassador
Gerard will make to Germany with
regard to her implied intentions as
to neutral shipping in the new "war
zone" that they virtually commit the
United States TO most drastic action
if disregarded at Berlin. AmbaSsa-
dor Gerard says:
''lf the commanders Of German
vessels of war should act upon the
presumption that the flag of the
United States was not being used in
rood faith and should destroy on high
seas an American vessel or the lives
Of American citizens, it 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 so
happily existing between the two
governments. If such ieplorable sit
uation should arise, the Imperial Ger
man government can readily appreci-
ate that the government of the Unitde
States would be constrained to hold
the Imperial German authoritleslwk
the Imperial German government to
A strict accountability for such acts
of their naval authorities and take
any steps it might De necessary tc
take to safe guard American lives
and property and 70 secure TO Ameri-
can citizens the full enjoyment of
their acknowledged right on the high
seas"
Ambassador Page says:
"The government of the United
States. therefore trusts that His
Maiesty's government will do all ir
:: their power 20 restrain vessels of
British nationality from the decep-
tive use of the flag of the United
States in the sea area defined in the