Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-13
Neutral Powers Usually Com
mend Course Of United
States as Expressed 10 Ger
many and Great Britain.
CASES NOT PARALLEL
IN THEIR IMPORTANCE
Wonder Is Regarding Reply
Likely 10 Be Returned From
Berlin TO Perempioy Wash
ington Statement,

tsF sosstaa 5oVAnst srsctst lsAnrB Ntsst
Washington. Feb. ~ Reading -
} the official texts OF the two notes
I from the United States to Germany
and Great Britain developed today
an Intense Interest among 0ffieiaiH
and diplomats ia the question Of what
would be the nature Of the replies
from the two seilsaerent governments.
That Great Britain would give as
aurauees Of no intention To sanction
the general use Of neutral Flags ~
/ British merchant ships was the belief
OF many officials. But the widest
sort % speculation. bused on a variety
81 conceptions Of Germanys plans IN
waElng a submarine war on merchant
ships. WAS heard a. 70 the probable
response Of the Berlin foreign office.
fmbassies Are silent.
Count won Hernstorff the German
ambassador. declined to discuss tho
note 20 Germany as he had received
no adviees from Berlin concerning II
and the British embassy also was 81
itnt.
What excited most attention In con-
gtesa and among diplomats, however,
was The serious tone of the notes, even
though qualified BY The polite terms
OF diplomatic usage. The determina-
ton of the United States government
70 have the American flag used only
bs ships entitled 10 fly II and tho
warning that Germany would be held
10 a strict accountability II Ameri-
can lives or vessels were lost In at
lacks on merchant vessels in the new.
n delimited sea zonen Of war, were
practically the whole topics Of discus.
sion IN executive and congressional
quarters as well as among the ambas-
Aedors and ministers Of bellgerent
and neutral nations
Neutral Diplomats Approve.
While there were no authorized ex-
presslons. Il was evident that the neu-
trail diplomats In general gave both
notes their approval because Of the
Identity Of interests of their govern
ments and the United States IN the
circumstances. The opposition of &
powerful neutral government 10 the
practices stggested By the Lusitania
incident or the threatened attacks on
merchant vessels was considered as
likely 70 have 4 most beneficial ef-
feet ana there were suggestions thnt
the argument Of the American gov
eminent would be followed in a Joint
protest 10 both Germany and Great
Britain by the three Scandinavian
countries az we'll as separate repre-
Apntatlons from the other neutrals Of
Europe.
Cases Not Parallel.
DISCUSSING comments upon differ.
eheea IN the two notes. high officials
.of the government said the cases we're
not parallel as the United States had
little ground IN international law for
protest against the occasional Use Of
a neutral FLAG by a belligerent when
escaping capture. aud even the oh
leetiunh voiced against the general
misuse Of the neutral ensign could lie
raised only on general moral princi.
pies OF on the ground Of unneiFhbor.
ltnesa and SERIOUS Inconvenience ruth-
ST tbnn on any definite rule Of inter-
national law Az for the comnunicn-
tion 20 Germany, administration uf.
iicials who helped prepare the doou-
ment emphasized the point that the
American government proceeded on
the firm grnund of international right
aH il has been a long established prin-
eipie, they said based on innumer-
lthle preredents that merchant yes
Hel without means Of protecting itself
must be visited first by an enemy shin
and given an opportunity to aurren-
der Or save It's passengers before VIC.
lenee II applied Again It Was deciaf-
ga that the necessity FOR strong
warning was most compelling. lest
the sinking of an American vessel OF
loss Of American lives give rise 10 a
critical situation With alarming posi-.
hiltles
Interest III the situation was
heishtened by the addition Of another
diplomatic difficulty with Germany
over the Interference by German mill
liars authorities with mail eommuni-
leallens III American Minister Henry
NanDyke between The Hague and
LtNembnfe. A formal inquiry was
sent 70 Berlin concerning the incident
aud officials hoped Il would he salts
tactefib adjusted. relying on tho uni
form courtesy hitherto manifested by
the German government In dealing
with Minister whitioek az Brussels
and other American ohlcmls In the
War zones.
I
lI1kAfh III flkdnE 20 HAN