Fair play., 1915-05-22

struction of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognize also, rs all other
nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precaution of visit and search
to ascertain whether suspected mer-
chairman Is in fact OF belligerent ma
tionality or is in fact carrying contra
band of war under neutral flag.
Fairness Impossible With Submarines.
The government Of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the
attention of the Imperial German gov
ernment with the utmost earnestness
to the fact that the objection to their
present method of attack against the
trade OF their enemies lies in the prac-
tical impossibility of employing sub
marines in the destruction of COM
merce without disregarding those
rules of fairness, reason, justice and
humanity which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t Is practi.
cally impossible for the officers of a
submarine TO visit merchantmen at
sea and examine her papers and car
go. 1t is practically impossible for
them to make a prize of her, and, il
they cannot put a prize crew on board
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 facts it is, under
stood, the Imperial German govern
ment frankly admits. We are in
formed that in the instances of which
haUa gnnGnn 60,
that poor measure of safety was not
given, and in at least two of the cases
cited not so much as a warning was
received. Manifestly submarines 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 hui
manity.
American citizens act within their
indtsputable rights in taking their
ships and in travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas and exercise those
rights in what should be the we'll
justified confidence that their lives
will not be endangered by acts done
in clear violation of universally ac-
knowleged international obligation
and certainly in the confidence that
their own government will sustain
them in the exercise of their rights.
Apology and Reparation Expected.
There was recently published in |
the newspapers of the United States, |
regret to inform the Imperial Ger. |
man government, a formal warning |
10 come from the Imperial |
German embassy at Washington, ad- |
dressed to the people of the United |
States and stating in effect that any
citizen of the United States who eX-
ercises his right Of free travel upon
he seas would do so at his peril if
his journey should take him within
he zone of water within which the
imperial German navy was using sub
marines against the commerce of
Great Britain and France, notwith-
the respectful but very
earnest protest Of his government,
he government of the United States.
do not refer to this for the purpose
# calling the attention of the Imperial
German government at this time to
he surprising irregularity OF a com.
from the Imperial Ger
nan embassy at Washington, ad-
Iressed to the people OF the United
states through the newspapers, but
'nly for the purpose of pointing out
hat no warning that an unlawful and
nhuman act would be committed can
'ossibly be accepted as an excuse or :
'alli,tion for that act or as an abate- ..
nent of the responsibility cor its A..
ommission.
Long acquainted as this government
as been with the character OF the .
imperial German government and
With the high principles OF equity by .
which they have in the past been :
ctuated and guided, the government ,
I the United States cannot believe .
hat the commanders of the vessel
mich committed these acts of law :
assness did so except under a mis-
pprehension of the orders issued by .
he Imperial German naval authori- ..
les. 1t takes it for granted that, at !
'ast within the practical possibilities I.
I every such case, the commanders, |
ven OF submarines, were expected :
, do nothing that would involve the !
YES of noncombatants or the safety
neutral ships, even at the cost Of .
lilins OF their object of capture or
estrruction. 1t confidently expects, 4.