New Britain herald., 1915-02-11
Against General Use Of American fIaQ and Destruction of VeSSc.S.
SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS MAY ARISE
Text of Notes Sent to BeIIigcrcnts EX- presses EmphaticaIly Displeasure of Washington Government at Actions of European Countries.

Washington, Feb. 1.-The United States has warned Great Britain and Germany respectively that general use of the American flag by British ves- sels would be viewed with grave con- cern here, and that the destruction by Germany of any American vessel in the newly prescribed war zone would lead to serious complications.
 1t became known today that the text of the two notes sent last night to Great Britain and Germany expressed much more emphatically than had been generally known the displeasure of the United States at the use of neu- tral flags by British merchantmen and it's solicitudc over the implica ton that neutral vessels were liable to destruc- tlon by German submarines in the wa ters around Great Britain and Ire land.
 Friendly Pointed Statement.
 In the document which has been transmitted to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin for presentation to the German foreign office there is a friendly, but pointed statement that American ves- sels should have free and unrestricted passage through the high seas and un- blockaded waters, and that destruc- tion of an American vessel might lead to change in the hitherto friendly relations which have existed between the United States and Germany.
 While in the note to Great Britain the representations made are not based on the Lusitania incident, but on the statement of the British foreign of flee Justifying the use of neutral flags by it's vessels, the United States has stated unequivocally. it is understood, that continuance of the practice would be highly dangerous to neutral ves- sels and would be viewed here with the deepest anxiety.
 Creates Profound Impression.
 The texts of the two documents are expected to be published by the state department tomorrow. Among dip- lomatists here the fact that the United States has taken a pronounced stand created a profound impression
 No joint representations with the United States on the same subjects have been made by any of the neu- trals, though the various foreign of- fees, though their ministers here have consulted the American government as to its attitude.
 Justified Under Circumstances.
 In official quarters it was declared unlikely that the use of tne Ameri- can flag by the Lusitania or the Orduna would be selected for the subject of protest or diplomatic cor respondence. The American govern ment, however, in it's note denies the right of a general use of the Ameri- can flag, leaving. it is said the in ference that the one or two incidents Which had occurred might have been Justified under the circumstances.
 There is no question according to those who are familiar with the American governments position that the issuance of any orders from the British admiralty, as Germany al- leges, authorizing the use of the American flag would be disapproved. The British foreign office statement in that connection is taken by officials here as tantamount to a suggestion to British vessels that they could hoist a neutral flag. It is to such an of- ffcial and general countenance to the practice that the United States takes exception