The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-13
MUCH INTEREST
OVER THE NOTES
MUCH SPECULATIoNS AS TO
REPLIES FROM ENGLAND
AND GERMANY
REPRESENTATIVES
WERE SILENT
German Ambassador and British
Embassy Decline to Discuss
the Notes.
By Associated press.)


WASHINGTON, Feb, Threading
OF the official texts of the two notes
from the United States to GERMANY
and Great Britain developed today an
intense interest among officials and
diplomats in the question of what
would be the nature of the replies
from the two belligerent governments.
That Great Britain would give as
surances OF no intention to sanction
the general use of neutral flags by
British merchant ships was the belief
or many officials. But the widest sort
OF speculation. based on a variety of
conceptions of Germany's plans in
waging submarine war on merchant
ships, was heard as to the probable
response of the Berlin foreign office.
Count Yon Bernstorff. the German
ambassador. declined to discuss the
note to Germany, as he had received
no advices from Berlin concerning it.
The British embassy also was ilent.
What excited most attention in con-
gress and among diplomats, however.
was the serious tone of,the notes even
though qualified ty the polite terms
of diplomatic usage. The determine
tion OF the United States government
to have the American flag used only
by ships entitled to fly II and the
warning that Germany would be held
ito strict accountability" IL Ameri-
can lives or vessels were lost in the
attacks ON merchant vessels in the
newly delinfted sea zones ;of war,
practically were the sole topics OF digs
cusslon IN executive and congression-
al quarters as well as among the am
bassadors and ministers of belligerent
anu hentrai nation.
While there were no authorized ex-
pressions. 1t was evident that the neu-
trail diplomats in general gave both
notes their approval because. of the,
identity of interest Of their govern
ments and the United States in the
circumstances of a powerful neutral
government to the practices suggest
ed by sne Lugitania Incident O. tho
threatened attacks on merchant ves-
sells was considered as likely to have
a most beneficial effect and there were
suggestions that the argument of the
American government would be fol-
lowed in joint protest to both Ger
many. and Great Britain by three
scandinavian countries, as well as
separate representations from the,
other neutrals OF Europe.
Discussing comments upon differ
.ences I'm the two notes high officials
of the government said the cases were
not parallel as tho United States had
little ground in International law for
protest against the occasional use of
a neutral flag by belIigerent when
escaping capture, and even the OBJ
jectfons voiced against the general
misuse OF the neutral, ensign could be
raised only on general moral prifi-
ciples or on the ground of unneighbor-
Illness or serious Inconvenience rather
than on any definite rule of interna-
tional law.
As for the communication to Ger
many. administration officials who
helped prepare the document en-
phasided the point that the American
government proceeded on the firm
ground OF international right as Il has
been a long established principle. they
said. based on innumerable prece-
dents. that q merchant vessel without
meah. 5of; protecting itself must be
visited first by an enemy warship and
given an opportunity to surrender or
save its passengers before violence is
applied Again II was declared that
the necessity for a strong warning
was compelling. lest the sinking of
an American vessel or loss OF AmeTf-
can lives give rise to a critical situa-
ton with alarming Probabilities.
Interest in the situation was height
ened by the addition of another dips
lomatic difficulty with Germany. over,
the interference by German military
authorities with. mail communications
OF American Minister Henry Van Dyl
betweer. The Hague and Luxemburg.
A formal inquiry was sent To Berlin
concerning the incident and ofiicials
hoped u would be satisfactory adj
insted RELYING on the uniform cour-
tesy hitertO manifested by thu German
government in dealing with Minister
WhiGoclt ht brussels and other Amer
ice2 Sofileials IN the war zones,