The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-13
SHALL CONGRESS BE CALLED
Germany's Position and Ours.


chant ships upon the high seas.
2. That Germany shall abstain from
killing American citizens by sinking
unarmed merchant ships, as In case
Of the Lusitania, whether sailing
under an enemy's nag or a neutral
flag.
At the same time, our Government
has recognized the right Of Germany,
according to international usage, to
stop neutral merchant ships and to
search them for contraband of war;
to stop the enemy's unarmed mer-
chant ships and to seize or sink them
after providing for the safety OF their
passengers and crews; and to cat of
all intercourse with the enemy's ports
by establishing a blockade which Is
effective. Germany, however. does not
pretend that she has established an
effective blockade of any English port.
German submarines have been able
tillN 10 NAN luttlNN oiu upoi ''t
lish merchant ships and have sunk
only one out Of a thousand ships leav-
ing English ports.
American ships have as much right
upon the high seas as the ships or
Germany or any other nation. III
Germany should Intentionally destroy
or attack an American ship upon the
high seas. this would be a fragrant
violation Of American rights and could
be regarded by us as an act Of war
In her last note Germany offers ito
permit the free and safe passage OF
such tAmericanl passenger steamers
when made recognizable by special
markings and notification IL given a
reasonable time In advance" and this
conditional offer to permit the safe
passage OF passenger steamers is made
subject to the further reservation
that tho Imperial Government. how
ever, confidently hopes h a the INNER
ltan government Will tNE'illt' vi r'Ni
antee that these vessels have no CON
trahand on board. details Of arrange
ments for the unhampcred passage of
these vessels to be agreed upon by
the naval authorities of both sides"
obviously our Government will not
and cannot surrender our reedom of
the seas by accepting Germany's re-
stricted and conditional offer. We
have a right to sail our freight ships
as we'll as II passenger ships upon
mo high seas. free from. any interior
ence except that OF visit and search or
II an effective blockade as allowed by
international usage. our Government
cannot surrender or restrict TINS
right. Therefore it is bound to reject
the German proposal and to insist,
without compromise or abatement, on
an adequate and prompt assurance
by Germany that she will abstain from
attacking any American ships.
ne btllltill W pul p'Nfl
that Germany shall abstain from
sinking the enemy's unarmed mcr-
chant ships. as in case Of the Lust
tania. If the lives Of American citi-
zcns would thereby be imper!lled, in
wolves other considerations. We can
not make this demand as a matter "
right on the sole ground that the
sinking of the L.usitania was an in
humane and harharous act, though
this would constitute a ground for
representations and protest. We have
no right to set ourselves up as ar
h.ters to determine how the belliger-
ents in Europe shall carry on their
war at sea or on land. The fact that
Germany is carrying on the war In
an inhumanc by sinking un-
armed merchant ships with their pas
sengers and crews, or by homhard!ng
uufortiied towns, or by killing non-
combatants, or otherwise. would not
be a violation OF any rights Of the
United States and II would not JUS
tify our Government in cmhroiling
the United States in a war with Ger
many, even II We were prepared for
war.
The question is whether American
citizens have a right To sail in safety
upon unarmed merchant ships of
helligerents irrespective of any notice
or action Of the beiligerents, or either
Of them. The sinking OF an uuarmcd
merchant ship of a %bolligerent by a
submarine would not Ice in violation
of American rights If there were no
American citizens on board. Would
il he a violation of American rights
TO sink such "A ship carving NUM-
tons of war To the Allies If Amerl-
can citizens sailed on the ship after
Germany had given notice of her in
tention to sink the ship? 1t is oh
vious that If an unarmed merchant
ship cannot be attacked by a suO-
marine If a neutral Is on board, Ger
many would have to abandon her at
tempt through submarine warfare To
stop the supply of munitions OF war
to the Allies. a our Government