Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-05-20

tunate Impressions which have been
created and vindicate once more the
position OF that government with re-
gard to the sacred freedom of the
seas.
Strict Accountability Held.
The government OF the United
States has been apprised that the
Imperial German government consid-
cred themselves to be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances OF the
present war and the measures adopted
by their adversaries In seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods of retaliation which go
much beyond the ordinary methods OF
warfare at sea. in the proclamation OF
a war zone from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
This government has already taken oc-
casion to inform the Imperial German
government that it cannot admit the
adoption of such measures or such .
warning of danger to operate as in any
degree an authorization of the rights
of American ship-masters or OF Ameri-
can citizens bound on lawful errands
as passengers on merchant ships OF
belligerent nationality; and that 1t
must hold the imperial government to
a strict accountability for any infringe.
ment of these rights, intentional or
incidental. 1t does not understand the
Imperial German government to ques-
ton those rights. 1t assumes, on the
contrary, that the imperial govern
ment accepts, as of course, the rule
that the lives of non-eombatants,
whether they be of neutral citizenship
or citizens of one of the nations at
war. cannot lawfully or rishtfully be
put in jeopardy by the capture or
destruction of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognize also, as all other
nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precaution of visit and search to
ascertain whether suspected mer-
chairman is in fact of belligerent ma
tionality or is in fact carrying con-
traband of war under a neutral flag.
Submarines impracticabie.
"The government of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the
attention of the Imperial German gov
eminent with the utmost earnestness
to the fact that the objection to their
present method of attack against the
trade of their enemies lies in the prae-
teal impossibility of employing sub
marines in the destruction of COM
merce without disregarding those
rules of fairness. reason, justice and
humanity, which ali modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t is practically
impossible for the officers of a sub
marine to visit a merchantmen at sea
and examine her papers and cargo.
Sustains American Rights.
American citizens act within their
indisputable 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 justi-
| fed confidence that their lives will
not be endangered by acts done In
clear violation of universally acknowl-
edged International obligation, and
certainly in the confidence that their
| own government will sustain them in
| the exercise of their rights.
The government and people of the
| United States look to the Imperial
German government for just, prompt
and enlightened action in this vital
matter with the greater confidence
because the United States and Ger
many are bound together not only by
special ties of friendship, but also by
the explicit stipulations of the trea-
ty of 1928 between the United States
and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers of
| reparation in case of the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake,
| while they may satisfy international
obligations 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 immeas.
urable 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 enjoymert.-Bryan."