The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-17

to strike enemy ships, feels 1t to be
its duty to call the attention Of the
imperial government with sincere re-
spect and the most friendly senti-
ments, but very candidly and ear
nestly, to the very serious possibili-
ties Of the course Of action apparent
ly contemplated under that proclama-
tion.
""The government CT the United
States views those possibilities with
such grave concern that it feels it to
be it's privilege and indeed its duty in
the circumstances to request the I'M
perial German government to consId-
er, before action is taken, the critical
situation in respect of the relation be-
tween this country and Germany
which might arise were the German
naval forces. in carrying out the pol
icy foreshadowed in the admiralty S
proclamation, to destroy any mer-
chant vessel Of the United Stats or
cause the death Of American citizens.
"'It is Of course not necessary to
remind the German government that
the sole right Of a belligerent in deal
ing with neutral vessels on the high
seas is limited to visit and search,
unless a blockade is proclaimed and
effectively maintained, which this
government does not understand to
be proposed in this case. To declare
or exercise . right to attack and de-
stroy any vessel entering a prescrib-
ed area of the high seas without first
certainly determining its belllgerent
nationality and the contraband char
acter of it's cargo would be an act so
unprecedented in naval warfare that
this government is reluctant to be-
lieve that the imperial government
of Germany in this case contemplates
it as possible.
""The suspicion that enemy ships
are using neutral flags improperly
can create no just presumption that
all ships traversing prescribed area
are subject to the same suspicion.
It is to determine exactly such fues-
tions that this government under
stands the right OF visit and search
to have been recognized.
"'This government has carefully
noted the explanatory statement is
sued by the imperial German govern
ment at the same time with the proc
lamation Of the German admiralty
and takes this occasion to remind the
imperial German government very re-
speetfully that the government Of the
United States is open to none Of the
criticisms for unneutral action to
which the German government be-
lieves the governments Of certain
other neutral nations have laid them
selves open; that the government OF
the United States has not consented
to or acquiesced in any measure
which may have been taken by the
other belligerent nations in the pres
ent war which operates to restrain
neutral trade, but has, on the con-
trary, taken in all such matters po-
s;tion which warrants it in holding
those governments responsible in the
proper way for any untoward effects
on American shipment which accept
ed principles Of information law 90
not justify; and that it therefore re-
CARDS itself as free, in the present in
stance, to take with clear con-
science and upon accepted principles
the position indicated in this note.
"Tf the commanders Of German
vessels Of war should act upon the
presumption that the flag OF the
United States was not being used IT
good faith and should destroy on the
high seas an American vessel or the
lives of American citizens it would
be difficult for the government OF the
United States to view the act IN any
other light than as an indefenslole
violation of neutral rights which II
would be very hard indeed to recon
cile with the friendly relations now
so happily existing between the two
governments.
".If sucn a deplorable situation
should arise the imperial German
government can readily appreciate
that the government Of the United
States would be constrained to hold
the imperial German government to
g. strict accountability for such acts
of their naval authorities, and to
take any steps it might be necessary
to take to safeguard American lives
and property and to secure to Ameri-
can citizens the full employment OF
ts-eir acknowledged rights on the
/ yh seas.
1.-The government Of the United
safes, in view Of these considera-
tions, which it urges with the great
est respect and with the sincere pur-
pose of making sure that no m!sun-
derstanding may arise and no CIR
cumstance occur that might even
cloud the intercourse Of the two gov
enments, expresses the confident
hone and expectation that the imne-
rial German government can and Will
give assurance that American clrlZens
and their vessels will not be molest-
ed by the naval forces Of Germany
otherwise than by visit and searcn,
though their vessels may be travers-
ing the sea area de!imited in the
proclamation Of the German admiral
ty.
"It IS added for the information
Of the Imperial government that rep
resentations have been made to his
Britannia Majesty's government IN re-
snect to the unwsrranted use OF the
American flag for the protection OF
British ships
February 10, 1915.
"The secretary Of state has in
structed Ambassador Pogo ct Lon
don to present to the British govern,
ment e note to tho following effect;
1.-The deDartment has been advis'
ed of the declaration Of the German
admiralty on February indicating
that the British COVER nnent had or
January 81 explicitly authorized ths
use OF neutral flags on British Uer'
(Continuei on last p2ge.)