New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-13
Where the Threat of German Lynch Law
on the High Seas Comes In.

We publish in another column of this page
letter from Mr.. William Bayard Hale complaining
Of The Tribune's criticism of the German Ad-
miralty's recent war zone" proclamation. Mr..
Hale saws that we showed complete indifference
TO the facts" in discussing the effects of the
proclamation on neutral rights. Yet in holding
that the German war zone" order is similar in
scope and purpose to the earlier British "war
zone" order. affecting parts of the North Sea, Mr.
Hale himself mistakes the facts and fails abso-
lutelv to comprehend the basis Of our argument.
The British government gave notice that a
war zone" existed, and that neutral vessels en-
terng it would be endangered by the presence OF
mines Not having declared a blockade of Ger
man ports, Great Britain did not try to suspend
the right of neutral shipping TO enter those ports,
nor did she hint at any intention Of dealing with
neutral vessels entering the zone-whether con-
traband carriers or not--except in conformity
with the established rules of international law.
Germany, on the other hand, declared war
zone" which, because Of its vast extent, could
never be adequately covered by mines or patroned
bv submarines-the latter the only German war
vessels which can at present keep the sea. This
"war zone" is a paper one, intended to serve
some of the uses of n paper blockade The proc
lamaton of it was meant not so much to warn
neutral vessels of the legitimate perils to be en-
countered in war zone" as it was to intimidate
them from entering British and Irish ports, which
under the rules of international law are still
open to foreign commerce.
Instead Of announcing a purpose TO search and
seize neutral ships carrying contraband, in ac-
cordance with international usage, the German
rlttp n
yelled threat of lynch law against neutrals; at
is advisable for neutral ships to avoid entering
this area TALL the waters surrounding Great Brit
ain and Ireland, for even though the German
naval forces have instructions TO avoid violence
to neutral ships, in so far as they are recogniz-
able, in view Of the misuse Of neutral flags or
dered by the British government and the con.
tingencics Of naval warfare submarine naval
warfarel their becoming victims Of torpedoes di-
rected against enemy ships cannot always be
averted."
This is more than a warning against the or
binary perils Of navigation in a clearly defined
"war zone" 1t is q threat that neutral vessels
may be accidentally torpedoed instead of being
overhauled and searched by German submarine
patrols.
The criticism which The Tribune made of the
German war zone proclamation was based on
the fundamental conceptions of international law.
1t is necessarily repeated in the note which the
State Department has just sent to the German
Foreign Office. That note says:
II the commanders Of German vessels OF war
should act upon the presumption that the flag OF the
United States not being used in good faith and
should destroy on the high American vessel
the lives of American citizens II would be difficult
for the government Of the United States TO view the
act in any other light than ndefensibe viola
ton Of neutral rights. II such deplorabe situa
ton should arise the imperial German government
can readily appreciate that the government of the
United States would be constrained TO hold the i'm
peral German government 10 strict accountability
for such acts ot their naval authorities and TO TAKE
any steps might be necessary to take TO safeguard
American lives and property and TO secure to Amer
can citizens the full enjoyment OF their acknowledged
rights on the high seas.
There should be no difference Of opinion among
Americans on that point. In protesting against
the German threat of lynch law on the seas The
Tribune took the only view that could be logically
or honorably taken by the American government
and the American people.