The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-14

n merchantman at sea and examine her
papers and cargo. 1t is practically i'm.
possible for them to make n prize of
her; and, if they can not put 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
sca in her small boats.
''These facts, it is understood, the
imperial German government frankly
| admit. We are informed that in the
instances of which we have spoken time
enough for even that poor measure of
safety was not given, and in at least
two of the eases cited not so much rs
a warning was received. Manifcstly
submarines cannot be used against mer-
chantmen, as the last few weeks have
shown, without an Inevitable violation
Of many sacred principles of justice and
humanity.
Warning No Palliation
American citizens act within their
lndisputable 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 well justified conf
denee that their lives will not be en-
dangered by acts done in clear viola
tiop of universally acknowledged inter
national obligations, and certainly in
the confidence that their own govern
ment will sustain them in the exercise
of their rights.
There was recently published in the
newspapers of the United States, re-
greet to inform the imperial German
government, formal warning purport-
ing to come from the imperial German
embassy at Washington, addressed to
the people of the United States, and
stating in effect that any citizen of the
United States who exercised his right
of free travel upon the seas would do
so at his peril if his journey should
take him within the zone of waters
within which the imperial German navy
was using submarines against the com
mercc of Great Britain and France,
notwithstanding the respectful but very
earnest protest of his government, the
government of the United States. [
do not refer to this for the purpose of
calling the attention of the imperial
German government at this time to the
surprising irregularity of a eommunica-
tion from the imperial German embassy
at Washington addressed to the people
of the United States through the news
papers, but only for the purpose of
pointing out that no warning that an
unlawful and inhumane act will be
committed can possibly be accepted as
an excuse or palliation for that act or
as an abatement of the responsibility
for its commission.
Polite Demand to Cease Atrocities
oLong acquainted as this Govern
ment has been with the character of
the Imperial German Government and
with the high principles of equity by
which they have in the past been actu-
ated and guided the Government of
the United States can not believe that
the commanders of the vessels which
committed these acts of lawlessness did
so except under a misapprehension of
the orders issued by the Imperial Ger
man naval authorities. 1t takes it for
granted that, at least within the prac-
tical possibilities of every such case,
the commanders even of submarines
were expected to do nothing that would
involve the lives of non-combatants or
the safety of neutral ships, even at
the cost of failing of their object of
capture or destruction. 1t confidently
expects, therefore, that the Imperial
German Government will disavow the
acts of which the Government of tho
United States complains, that they will
make reparation, so far as reparation is
possible, for injuries which are with
out measure, and that they will take
immediate steps to prevent the recur-
renee of anything so obviously sub
yorSiun Of hn ,,rinoiplno, Of rfa e.
which the Imperial German Govern
ment have in the past SO wisely and so
firmly contended.
Not Last Word Necessarily
"The Government and people of the
United States look to the Imperial Ger
man Government for just, prompt and
enlightened action in this vital matter
with the greater confidence because
the United States and Germany are
bound together not only by special ties
of friendship, but also by the explicit
stipulations of the treaty of 1928 be-
tween the United States and the king
dom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers Of
reparation in ease of the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake, while
they may satisfy international obliga-
tions, if no loss of life results, cannot
justify or excuse practice, the natural
and necessary effect of which is to
subject neutral nations and neutral
persons to new and unreasonable risks.
'The Imperial German Government
will not expect the Government of the
United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance of its
sacred duty of maintaining the rights
of the United States and its citizens
and of safeguarding their free exercise
and enjoyment.
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