New Britain herald., 1915-02-20
RAISED AMERICAN FLAG
 TO SAVE PASSENGERS
Great Britain Issues Reply Explain
 ing LuSitania Incident.

! London, Feb. 19, T:32 D. m. )- | The British foreign office this evening issued a note in reply to the represen- tations of the United States govern ment concerning the use of the Amer ican flag by British vessels. The note 1 says that the Cunard line steamer 1 Lusltania, on her recent voyage from New York to Liverpool, raised the American flag ito save the live of on-combatants, crew and passen- gers"
 Left Under British Flag. 1t adds that, in spite of the fact that American passengers em barking on the Lusitania on her outward voy- age for New York asked that the American flag be hoisted. 'the Brit 1sh government did not give any ad vice to the company as how to meet this request and, it is understood, tue Lusitania left Liverpool under the British flag"
 After discussing the Lusitania in c1dent the memorandum makes this statements:
 
 intention of advising their merchant shipping to use foreign flags as a general practice or to resort to them otherwise than for escaping capture or destruction"
 Belligerent's Obligation.
 In conclusion the statement says
 The obligation upon a belligerent Warship to ascertain definitely for it. ~lf IT, a merchant vessel before capturing it and a fortiori (stronger reason) be- fore sinking and destroying it, has been universally recognized. If that obligation is fulfilled, the hoisting of a neutral flag on board of British vessel cannot possibly endanger neu- tral shipping, and the British gover- ment holds that if loss to neutrals is caused by disrega rding this obligation it is upon the enemy vessel disregard ing and upon the government giving orders that it should be disregarded that the full responsibility for injury to neutrals ought to rest.
 Text of Reply.
 The following is the text of the reply:
 'The memorandum communicated
  tention in courteous and friendly terms to the action of the captain of the British steamship Iusitana in raising the flag of the United States of America when approachin British waters, and says that the government of the United States feels certain anxiety in considering the possibility of any general use of the flag of the United States by British vessels traVerslng those waters, since the effect of such policy might be to bring about menace to the lives and vessels of United States citizens.
 Tt was understood that the Ger man government announced their in- tention of sinking British merchant vessels at sight by torpedoes, without giving any opportunity of making any provision for the saving of lives Of non-comb blatant crews and passengers. 1t was in consequence of this threat that the Lustanian raised the United States flag on her inward voyage.
 Request By Passengers.
 'On her subsequent outward voyage a request was made by United States passengers who were embarking on board her that the United States flag should be hoisted, presumably to en- sure their safety. Meanwhile, the memorandum from your excellency had been received His excellency government did not give any advice to the company as to how to meet this request and it understood that the Lusitania left Liverpool under the British flag. It seems unnecessary to say more as regards the Lusitania, in particular
 'In regard to the use of foreign flags by merchant vessels, the British merchant shipping act makes it clear that the use of the British flag by foreign merchant vessels is permitted in time of war for the purpose of es- caping capture. It is believed that in the case of some other nations there is similar recognition of the same practice with regard to their flag, and that none of them has forbidden it. Would Be Unreasonable. Tt would, therefore, be unreason- able to expect his majesty's govern ment to pass legislation forbiddinS the use of foreign flags by British merchant vessels to avoid capture by the enemy, now that the German gov ernment has announced their lnten- l ton to sink merchant vessels at sight with their non-c combatant crews, car goes and papers, proceeding hitherto ] regarded by the opinion of the world, not as war, but piracy. 1t Is 1elt that the United States government cou1d ! not fairly ask the British government 1 to order British merchant vessels to l forego means always hitherto per- mitted of escaping, not only capture, ] but the muchworse fate of sinking