Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-25
WILL INSIST SHIPS STYLING
U. S. FLAG BE Identified
BRITAIN REFUSES TO YIELD
England Refuses to Discontinue
Use of American Emblem,
Saying 1t Is Right of
BeIIigerents.
PASSES BUCK TO ERMAM
If q. S. Vessels Are Sunk Such
Act Will Constitute Piracy
For Which She Alone Is
Responsible, Claim.

london. Feb. 22.--Sir Edward Grey.
the British foreign minister, last night
made public Britain's reply 20 the Uni
ted States protest against the use Of
the American flag by British merchant
vessels in the German war zone Eng
land refuses to discontinue the prac-
tice, though Sir Edward declares the
be made a general custom.
Britain maintains that it is the priv
llege of vessels of a beligerent nation
TO use the flags of neutral nations to
escape capture: that such privilege is
recognized by the other powers; that
customs of war require hostile war
ships to ascertain definitely the nation
atty of merchant vessels before taking
possession of them and finally that If
German submarines sink neutral YES
sells without having taken precautions
TO ascertain their nationality. such acts
VIII be acts OF piracy, for which Ger
many win be solely responsible.
Inc following is the text of the reply
of Great Britain to the American note,
as handed tC Walter Hines Page. the
American ambassador:
The memorandum communicated on
the Nth of February calls attention in
courteous and friendly terms to the &C.
ton Of the captain of the British
steamship Lusitania in raising the flag
OF the United States of America when
approaching British waters and says
mat the government of the United
States would feel anxiety in consider
ing he possibility of any general use
OF the flag of the United States by
British vessels traversing those waters.
since the effect of such a policy might
be to bring o a menace to the lives
and vessels of United states citizens.
1T was understood that the German
government announced their intention
of sinking British merchant vessels at
sight by torpedoes. without giving any
opportunity to make any provision for
the saving of lives of noncombatant
crews and passengers. 1t was In view
OF this threat that the Lusitania raised
Me United States flag on her inward
'oyage.
Americans Requested 1t.
On her subsequent outward oyage
! request was made by United States
passengers. which We're el~nbarking on
BOARD, that the United States flag
should be hoisted. presumably. to in
sure their safety. Meanwhile. the
memorandum from YOU excellency had
been received. His majesty's govern
ment did not give any advice to the
company as to how to meet this request
and 1t understood that the LuSitania
left Liverpool under the British flag.
1t seems unnecessary to say more as
regards the Lusitania in particular.
I'm regard to the use of foreign flags
by merchant vessels, the British mer-
chant 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 escaping cap
fire. II is believed in tho ca.o nf nfhar
nations there is similar recognition of
the same practice with regard to their
flag and that none of them has for
bidder it.
TT would. therefore, be unreasonable
to expect his majesty's government to
pass legislation fo%rbidding the use of
foreign flags Ey British merchant YES
sells to avoid capture by the enemy. now
that he German government have an
nounced their Intention to sink mer-
chant vessels at sight with their non
combatant crews, cargoes n papers,
q proceeding hitherto regarded by the
opinion of the world not as war but
piracy. 1t felt that the Emitted States
government could not fairly ask the
British government to order merchant
vessels to forego a means always hith-
erto permitted of escaping not only
capture but the much worse fate Of
sinking and destruction.
Great Britain has always, when a
neutral, accorded TO vessels Of other
states at war the liberty to use the
British flag as a means Of protection
against capture. and instances are on
record when United States vessels
awaited themselves of this facility at the
time of the American civil war. 1t
would be contrary to fairness to make
an exception now, If, when conditions
are reversed the United Safes and neu-
trail nations We're to grudge TO British
ships the liberty to take similar action.
THE British government has no in
tention of advising it's merchant ship
ping to use foreign flags as a general
practice. or to resort to them otherwise
than for escaping capture or destruc-
ton. The obligation upon a belligerent
warship to ascertain definitely for itself
the nationality and character of a mer-
chant vessel before capturing it and a
fortiori before sinking n destroying
1t, has been universally recognized. If
mat obligation is fulfilled the hoist
ing of a neutral flag on board a British
vessel canno possibly endanger neutral
shipping and the British government
holds that if loss to neutrals is caused
by disregard of this obligation it is
upon the. enemy vessel disregarding it
and upon the government giving the
orders that it should be disregarded
that the sole responsibility for injury to
neutralS ought to rest"