The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-02-26
j. S. SENDS WARNING.
GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY
TOLD TO KEEP HANDS
OFF FLAG.
Note Sent to Powers by Secretary of
State Bryan Says They Will Be Held
to Strict Account for Any Loss of
American Lives.

blcdI Dllldln anu GERMANY anu mdue
public by the state department indi
cate the possibility of a crisis in the
efforts of the United States govern
ment to maintain neutrality toward
the European belligerents.
The secretary of state has instruct
ed Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to
present TO the German government a
note to the following effect:
THE government of the United
States. having had it's attention direct
ed to the proclamation of the German
admiralty issued on February 4. that
the waters surrounding Great Britain
and ireland, including the whole of the
English channel, are to be considered
as comprised within the seat of war;
that all enemy merchant vessels found
In those waters after the 18th inst. will
be destroyed, although it may not al.
ways be possible to save crews and
passengers, and that neutral vessels
expose themselves to danger within
this zone of war because, in view of
the misuse of naval flags said to have
ment on January 81, and of the con-
tingencies OF maritime warfare, it may
not be possible always TO exempt neu-
trail vessels from attacks intended to
strike enemy ships, feels 1t to be it's
duty to call the attention of the i'm
perial government, with sincere re-
spect and the most friendly senti-
ments, but very candidly and earnest
ly. to the very serious possibilities of
the course of action apparently contem-
plated under that proclamation.
THE government of the United
States views those possibilities with
such grave concern that it feels it TO
be its privilege. and. indeed. its duty
in the circumstances. T to request the
imperial German government to con-
slider before action is taken the critical
situation in respect of the relation be-
tween this country and Germany which
might arise were the German naval
forces, in carrying out the policy fore
Swallowed in the admiralty's proclama-
ton, to destroy any merchant vessel
OF the United States or cause the
death of American citizens.
ITO declare or exercise a right to at
tack and destroy any vessel entering a
prescribed area of the high seas with
out first certainly determining it's bel
ligerent nationality and the contra
band character of its cargo would be
an act SO unprecedented in naval war
fare that this poyerpmeuf 10 roIuctauf
to believe that the imperial govern
ment OF Germany in this case contem-
plates 1t rs possible.
IF the commanders of German ves-
sells OF war should act upon the pre-
sumption that the flag of The United |
States was not being used in good |
faith and should destroy on the high |
seas an American vessel or the lives |
OF American citizens, it would be diff. |
ficult 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 /. would |
be very hard. indeed. to reconcile
with the friendly relations now so
happily subsisting between the two
governments.
IF such a deplorable situation
should arise. the imperial German row
eminent can readily appreciate that
the government OF the United States
would be constrained to hold the i'm.
perial 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 propar-
~ and to secure to American citizens
he full enjoyment OF their ac,.nowl.
edged rights on the high seas.
The government of the Uniteh
States expresses the confident hope
md expectation that the imperial Ger.
nan government can and will give IS
that American citizens and
heir vessels will not be molested by
he naval forces of Germany other.
wise than by visit and search, though
heir vessels may be traversing the
lea area delimted in the proclana.
ion of the German admiralty"
Note Sent TO Britain.
The secretary of state has instruct
ID Ambassador Page at London n
present to the British government a
tote 10 the following effect:
The department has been advised
# the declaration of the German aa.
niralty on February 4, indicating that
he British government had on jam.
ry 81 explicitly authorized the use of
eutral flags on British merchant yes.
els. presumably for the purpose of
vofding recognition by German naval
orces
The formal declaration OF such a
olicy OF general misuse of n neutrars
ag Jeopardizes the vessels of the
eutral visiting those waters in a
ocular degree by raising the pre-
umption that they are of belligereat {
ationality regardless of the flag
'hich they may carry
The government of the United
tates. therefore. trusts tina: his
lajesty's government will do all in {
S power to restrain vessels of Brit $