South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-12

The text of the statement given out
by the state department reads as fol-
lows:
FEB. 10. 1916.
The secretary OF state has instruct
cd Am bassadOr Page at London TO
present 10 the British government
note to following effect
The department has been advised
of the declaration Of the German adj
mlralty on Feb. indicating that the
British government had on Jan. 81
explicitly authorized the use Of neu-
trail flags on British merchant vessels
presumably for the purpose Of avert
ing recognition by German naval
forces. The departments attention
has been directed 20 reports in the
press that the captain Of Lusitania.
acting upon action or information re-
ceived from the British authorities.
raised the American flag as his vessel
approached the British coast in order
70 escape anticipated attacks by Ger
man submarines. TOdays press re-
ports also contain an alleged official
statement OF the foreign Office defend
ing the use OF the flag OF n neutral
country By a belligerent vessel i'm or
der 90 escape capture or attack by an
enemy.
Serious Consequences.
Assuming that the foregoing re-
ports are true the government Of the
United States. reserving for future
consideration the legality and propri-
ETY. or the deceptive use of the flag Of
a neutral power in any case for the
purpose OF avoiding capture, desires
very respectfully 10 point out to his
Brittanic majesty's government the
serious consequences which may re-
suit TO American vessels and Amer
lean citizens if this practice is con-
tinued
THE occasional use Of the flag Of a
neutral or an enemy under the stress
OF immediate pursuit and to deceive
an approaching enemy which appears
by the press reports To be represented
as the precedent and Justification used
10 support this action, seems to this
government a very different thing from
an explicit sanction by belligerent
government for its merchant ships
generally to fly the flag of a neutral
power within certain portions of the
high seas which are presumed To be
frequented with hostile warships.
The formal declaration of such a pol
icy OF general misuse of a neutraPs
flag jeOpaTdiZes TIE vessels of the neu-
trail visiting those waters in peculiar
degree by raising the presumption
that they are % belligerent nationality
regardless of the flag whcih they may
carry.
Against Use OF Flag.
I'm view OF the announced purpose
Of the German admiralty TO engage I'm
active operations in certain delimited
sea areas adjacent TO the coasts of
Great Britain and ireland. the govern
ment OF the United states would view
with anxious sOliCitude any general
use OF the flag Of the United States by
British vessels traversing those wa
tiers. A policy such as the one which
his ma iesty's government is said to in
tend to adopt would, if the declaration
of the German admiralty be put in
force. il seems clear afford no protec-
ton to British vessels while it would
be a serious and constant menace TO
the lives and vessels of American ctti-
zens.
.'Fhe government OF the United
States therefore trusts that his ma
jesty's government will do all in their
power to restrain vessels Of British
nationality from the deceptive use of
the flag Of the United States in the sea
area defined in the German declara-
ton. since such practice would greatly
endanger the vessels of a friendly
power navigatirg hose waters and
would even seem TO impose upon the
government OF Great Britain meas
ure OF responsibility for the loss OF
American lives and vessels In case OF
an attack by a German naval force
You will impress upon his ma
jestys government the grave concern
which this government feels in the
circumstances in regard to the safety
of American vessels and lives in the
war zone declared by the German ad-
miralty.
''You may add that this government
is making earnest representations tC
the German government in regard e
.r-fsa ese-sa1rs NJ
citizens if the declaration of the Ger
man admiralty is put into effect"
NOTE TO GERMANY.
The note TO Ambassador Gerard il
as follows: