Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-20
Replying to American Note,
Denial Is Made of Charges
Made by German Govern,
ment,
OLD GLORY NOT TO
BE EMPLOYED OFTEN
DiSCIaims Responsibility for
Act of LuSltaniai No Harm
# Laws of War Are OBJ
served,


tsf MORNING JousH,l SPECIAL lsAssn wtnsI
London, Feb 10 case y. m0--The
British foreign office issued a note
tonight in reply to the representations
OF the United States government con-
eerning the use OF the American flag
hy British vessels.
The note says that the Cunard line
steamer Lusitania on her recent voy-
age from New York to Liverpool
raised the American flag ITO save the
lives OF non-combatants. crew and
passengers. 1t adds that In spite Of
the fact that American passengers
cmbarking on the Lusitania on her
outward voyage for New York asked
that the American flag be hoisted
the British government did not give
any advice to the company as to how
to meet this request and. IL is under
stood, the Lusitania left Liverpool un-
der the British flag"
After discussing the Lusitanla in
cident the memorandum makes this
statement:
The British government has no In
tention of advising their merchant
! shipping TO use foreign flags as a
general practice or to resort to them
otherwise than for escaping capture
or destruction
In conclusion the statement says:
The obligation upon a belligerent
warship to ascertain definitely for
itself the nationality and character OF
n merchant vessel before capturing II
and fortiori tstronger rcasons) be-
fore sinking and destroying il is
universally recognized II that obli-
CATION Is fulfilled, the hoisting OF q
neutral flag on board a British vessel
| cannot possibly endHnger neutra
shipping, and the British government
holds that If loss TO neutrals is caused
by disregarding this obligation il is
upon the enemy vessel disregardine
and upon the government giving or
ders, that II should be dsregarded,
that the full responsibility for injury
to neutrals ought to rest"
Text OF Reply Given Ont.
The following IL the text Of the re-
/ ply of Great Britain to the American
note as handed TO Walter Hines Page,
the American ambassador, today.
The memorandum. communicated
! on the 11th of February calls atten-
ton in courteous and friendly terms
| to the action of the captain of the
British steamer Lusiiania In raising
the American flag when approaching
British waters and says that the gov
eminent of the United States feels
certain anxiety In considering the
/ possibility Of any general use of the
! flag of the United states by British
( vessels travcrsing those waters since
! the effect Of such policy might be
( to bring about menace to the lives
and vessels of United States citizens.
| "lt was understood that the Ger
| man government announced their in
! tention of sinking British merchant
vessels at sight by torpedoes, without
giving any opportunity to making
1 any provision for the saving of lives
of non-combatant crews and passen-
gers It was in consequence OF this
threat that the Lusitania raised the
United States flag on her inward voy-
age.
Requested by L. S. Passengers.
/ "On her subsequent outward voy-
age, a request was made by United
States passengers who We're eln-
| barking on board her that the Unit
| ed States flag should be holsted, pre-
sumably to insure their safety. Mean
while the memorandum from your
excellency had been received. HIS
maiestys government did mot give
any advice TO the company as TO now
to meet this request and II understood
that the Lusitania left Liverpool un-
der the British flag
ut seems unnecessary to say more
as regards the Lusitania IN particu-
lar.
''In regard to the use Of foreign
flags by merchant vessels, the Britt
ish merchant shipping act makes II
clear that the use of the British nag by
foreign merchant vessels is permit~
ted in time of war for the purpose
of escaping capture 1t Is believed IN
the case Of other nations there -
similar recognition of the same prac-
tice with regard to their tag and
that none Of them has forbidden H. Z
Denounces German Policy.
"It would therefore be unreasonable
to expect his majcstys government 70
pass legislation forbidding the use OF
foreign flags by British merchant ves-
sells TO avoid capture by the enemy
now that the German government
have announced their Intention 70
sink merchant vessels at sight with
their non-combatant crews, cargoes
and papers, "a proceeding hitherto re-
garded by the opinion of the world
not as war but piracy, II IS felt that
the United States government eould
not fairly ask the British government
TO order British merchant vessels to
forego a means always hitherto per-
mitted II escaping not only cap
ture but the much worse fate of sink
ing 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
availed themselves OF this FACILITY Mt
the time Of the American civil war.
II would be contrary To fairness TO
make an exception If now when con-
ditions were reversed and neutral ma