St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-02-17
Demand for Neutral Rights.

Demand for Neutral Rights.
The declaration by Germany of a
war zone" about the British Isles
and a warning to all neutral coun-
tries that their ships will enter that
zone, together with the display of
the United States flag on the British
steamship Lusitania, have called
from the American government one
of the strongest protests to the Brit
ish and German governments that
has been issued for many years.
These protests involve America in
the most serious diplomatic situa-
ton that Pres. Wilson has had to
face and it is not impossible they
will draw this nation into something
more serious than diplomacy. Some
time ago England warned neutral
nations that it had made the ocean
passage around the northern end of
the British Isles unsafe for neutral
shipping and now Germany makes a
similar announcement regarding the
passage around the south end of the
islands. The two warnings make it
impossible for neutral ships to safe
ly sail for the neutral ports of Hol-
land, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
In each case a belligerent has gone
outside of the three mile limit to i'm
pede or prevent navigation. This as
we understand it is in violation of
international law but has precedent
in the action of Japan in the Pacific
during the Russo-Japanese war.
The note to Great Britain seems to
have been kindly received and prom
Uses to bring the pledge by that coun-
try that it will not resort to the use
of a neutral flag except when it has
neutral passengers or goods on it's
passenger or merchant ships. That
doubtless will be satisfactory to the
United States and other neutrals who
are looking to this country as the
champion of their rights.
The note to Germany however has
been received in a more defiant man
ner. High authorities there express
the opinion that their country will
not take the trouble to stop and
search neutral ships found in its pro-
claimed war zone and allow them the
privilege of saving their passengers
before destroying them. Indications
are that Germany will attempt to
justify it's course by the claim that
England is attempting to starve out
Germany, women and children as
we'll as soldiers" This will hardly
be satisfactory to the neutral ma
to sail unmolested to neutral ports
and if a neutral ship is destroyed
outside of the three mile limit from
any of the belligerent countries seri-
Gus trouble is likely to follow. In
fact, Pres. Wilson has told Germany
in the note that if any American ship
was destroyed or American lives lost
the United States would be con-
strained to hold the imperial govern
ment to a strict accountability and |
if "such deplorable situation should |
arise the American government |
would take any steps it might be
necessary to take to safeguard |
American lives and property" Such
an unqualified statement and the at
titude of the German government |
that neutrals must enter the war
zone at their own risk means but one
thing, in case any American ship or
citizen is destroyed or killed by Ger
man submarine or other war vessel, |
and that is war. Consequently |
events in the English Channel will |
be watched with the keenest anxiety |
by all the civilized world.
Americans naturally feel they |
should be allowed to trade with neu- |,
trail countries without interference
of the belligerent countries and the
right of either England or Germany |
to mine the seas outside of the three
mile limit may be challenged. Eng |
land has been very dictatorial to-
wards this country in selling and de-
tanning American merchant ships and !
this government will have very ser
ious problem to secure for its ships