The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-12

lieLnAse proposal dcsigr1d TO eNtrlcate
tho administration ship purchase bill
from the deadlock which has blocked
its passage In the Senate and 20 avert
an extra session. vas put forward to
night by House Democrats through
Representative kitehin. OF North Car.
imperial German government to con
slider before action is taken the crit
ical situation in respect OF the rela-
ton between this country and Ger
many which might arise were the
German naval forces. In carrying out
the policy foreshadowed in the admi-
raltys proclamation TO destroy any
merchant vessel of the United states
or cause the death OF any American
citizens.
II Is. OF course. not necessary to
remind the German government that
the sole right of a belligerent in deal.
ing with neutral vessels on the high
seas is limited to visit and search. an.
less blockade is proclaimed aud eff
fectively maintained. which this gov
eminent does not understand to be
proposed in this case. To declare or
exercise a right 10 attack and destroy
any vessel entering a prescribed area
OF the high seas without first certainly
determining its belligerent national
lty and the contraband character Of
its cargo. would be an act so unprece-
dented in naval warfare that this gov
eminent is reluctant to believe that
the imperial government OF Germany
IN this case contemplates n as possi-
Bile. The suspicion that enemy ships
are using neutral flags improperly can
create no Just presumption that all
ships traversing a prescribed area are
subject to the same suspicion. Il Is
10 determine exactly such questions
that this government understands the
right of visit and search TO have been
recognized.
i Not Open to Criticism.
This government has carefully
noted the explanatory statement is
sued by the German government at
the same time with the proclamat ton
OF the German admiralty. and takes
this occasion to remind the imperial
German government very respectfully
that the government o. the United
states Is open TO none OF the criticism
for unneutral action to which the Ger
man government believes the govern
ments OF certain other neutral ma
tions have laid themselves open.
II the commander OF German
vessels of war should act upon the
presumption that the ias of the Unit
ed 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 diff
cult for the government of the United
states to view the act in any other
light than as an indefensible viola
ton OF neutral rights which IL would
be very hard indeed to reconcile with
the friendly relations now so happily
subsisting between the two govern
ments.
IF such a deplorable situation
should arise, the imperial German
government can readily appreciate
that the government of the United
states would be cOnstra med to hold
the imperial German government to a
strict accountability for such acts of
their naval authorities and to take
any steps II might be necessary to
take TO safeguard American lives and
property and to secure to American
citizens the full enjoyment of their
acknowledged rights or the high
seas.
The English Note.
February 10. 1915.
The secretary OF state has instruct
ed Ambassador Page at London to
/ present TO the British government a
note TO the British foreign office.
The department has been advised Of
thc declaration Of the German admiralty
~ On February 4th. indicating that the
British government had on January 3lsL
explicitly authorized the use Of neutray
flags on British merchant vessels prg-
/ sumably for the purpose Of avoiding
| recognition By German naval forces The
departments attention has also been di-
rccted 70 reports In the press that the
captain OF the Lusitania. acting upon
orders or Information received from the
British authorities raised the American
Rag a. his vessel approached the Brit
Ism coasts. In order to escape anticipated
attacks by German submarines Today's
press reports also contain an alleged Of
tictal statement of the foreign office de-
tending the use Of the FLAX Of a neutral
country by bclllEcr,nt vessel iu order
10 escape capture or attacK by an enemy.
Assuming the foregoing reports are
true. IN" government or the United
states. rcserEing for future cons id.ra-
tion the legality and proprigty of az.
deceptive use or neutral flaE In any
case Tor the purpose Of avoiding cap
out TO his Britannia muJozty's govern
m'nt the serious consequence which
Z may result TO American vessels and
American1 citizens 10 this practice Is
Different Proposition.
The occasional use Hf TU. lag of "a
neutral or au enemy under the stress OF
immediate pursuit and To- deceive m
approaching enemy. which appears by
me urDNF reports Goo 90 repre-. led az
the precedent and Qualification .r SUPP
port this action. seems fO this govern
ment u very dIrersut thing from an sk-
Iilrt sanction HE u.lliEerUut govern
. mNui FOR itH merchant ships generally
Co Nv thn flag ~ H neutral rover within
certain portions of the high seas which
are presumed Co. br frrIueuts1 wfh
hostile WarahIuH. The formal declare
iiuu n such policy of general misuse
OF neutral rHE IsnruraUIzea fnr tes.
srle ~ tu. neutral visiting those waters
iu t peculiar degree hf raising tUa pre-.
sumption fIt fH.E are uT NHINrHrsnf
nationality .HEHrNIrua ~ The Tag which
hey may carry.
On Wow or tUr announced purpose
OF thr German HHm.rHIf. rU engage Boo
active naval ...rIfI IH certain usi
united .nH .r.|" adjacent fH fHU coast
ut Great Britain sHU ireland. fHU rHHa
eminent of fHI uIfrH states would
view with HrNfUUH .H|IHIfuIH amy GENE
srHI nee of tho 1Hr of fnr United -f4f..
hf Er|iHH vessels tTtEfrHIuU those
waters. a policy such Ha che one which
DIE wu 'Hsf".a government IH aTfT Goo Ina
tend fu adopt would. If che declaration
uf tnH German admiralty ia ruf boz force.
10 SEEM clear HTsrd uo protection f1
British vessels. while If would Ua Il ae-
rIHua and constant menace tH che lives
and vessels uf American citizens
Restrain use o. y. =. rlaz.