The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1915-05-14
United States Tells
Germany No Word or
Act Will Be Omitted
to Back Its Rights
Full Text of American Note to Germany Made Public in
Forum eTonight-Note Is Polite But Firm-Ger-
man Embassy Warning Receives Hot Shot.

/ tions of the imperial German govern
ment to its naval commanders to be
upon the same plane of humane action,
prescribed by the naval codes of other
nations the government of the United
States was loath to believe, that these
acts so absolutely contrary to the
rules, the practices, and the spirit of
modern warfare, could have the coun-
tenance or sanction of that great gov
ernment. 1t feels it to be its duty,
therefore, 50 address the imperial
German government concerning them
with the utmost frankness and in the
earnest hope that it is not mistaken
in expecting action on the part of the
imperial German government which
will correct the unfortunate impress
sions which have been create& and
vindicate once more the position of
that government with regard to the
sacred freedom OF the seas.
THE government of the United
States has been appraised that the inn
perial German government considered
themselves to be obliged by the extra
ordinary circumstances of the present
war and the measures adopted by
their adversaries in seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods of retaliation which 20
warfare at sea, in the proclamation of
a war zone. from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
This government has already taken
occasion to inform the imperial Ger
man government that it cannot admit
the adoption of such measures or such
a warning of danger to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights Of American ship masters or OF
American citizens bound on lawful err
rands as passengers on merchant
ship of belligerent nationality; and that
it must hold the imperial German gov
ernnent to strict accountability for
any infringement of these rights. in :
territorial or incidental 1t does not
Understand the imperial German gov,
ernment, accepts, of course, the rule
that the lives of non -combattants,
whether they be OF neutral citizen
ship, or citizens of one of the nations
at war, can not lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture
or destruction OF an un -armed naer-
chairman, and recognize also. as all
other nations do, the obligation to
take the usual precaution of visit and
search to ascertain whether a suspect
ed merchantmen is in fact OF belliger-
ent nationality or is in. fact carrying
contraband OF war under neutral
flag.
THE government of the United
States. therefore, cesires to call the
attention of the Imperial German gov
ernment with the utmost earnestness
to the fact that the objection to their
present method OF attack against the
trade of their enemies lies in the prac-
tical impossibility OF employing sub
marines in the destruction of com
merce without disregarding those rules
of fairness reason, Justice and hui
CARDS as imperative. It lis practically
Impossible for the officers of sub :
marine to visit a merchantmen at sea
and examine her papers and cargo. It
is practically impossible for them to
make prize of her. snd, If they can
not put a prize crew on board of her.
they cannot sink her without leaving