South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-12
Text of Notes Sent To
Germany and England
Defining u. S. Attitude

I
/ present 10 the German government a
note 20 the following effect:
The government of the United
States having had it's attention direct
ed 10 the proclamation Of the German
admiralty issued on the fourth Of Feb
ruary that the waters surrounding
Great Britain and Ireland including
the whole OF the English channel. are
10 be considered as comprised within
the seat of war; that aIl enemy mer
| chant vessels found in those waters
after the 18th instant will be destroy
/ ed, although it may not always be pos
/ sible 20 save crews and passengers
/ and that If neutral vessels expose
/ themselves to danger within this zone
/ OF war because, in view OF the mis-
/ use Of neutral flags said 10 have been
/ ordered by the British Government on
| January 81 and Of the contingencies
| of maritime warfare, it may not be
/ possible always TO exempt neutral YES
sells from attacks intended to strike
| enemy ships. feels il to be its duty TO
! call the attention of the imperial Ger
/ man government with sincere respect
| and the most friendly sentiments, but
very candidly and earnestly TO the
very serious possibilities Of the course
i Ol ACTION apparently contemplated
| under that proclamation.
Should Consider Results.
! The government of the United
/ States views those possibilities with
such grave concern that il feels ii TO
/ be its privilege and indeed its duty
| IN the circumstances. 10 request the
/ imperial German government TO con-
I slider before action is taken, the crit
ical situation in respect of the rela-
| ton between this country and Ger
| many which might arise were the
| German naval forces, in carrying out
| the policy fOreshadOwed in the admir-
| alty's proclamation to destroy any
merchant vessel of the United States
CT cause the death OF American cit
| liens.
1T is of course not necessary to re-
mind the German government that
the sole right of a belligerent i'm deal
ing with neutral vessels on the high
seas is limited to visit and search TN
| less a blockade is proclaimed and eff
fectively maintained which this gov
eminent does not understand to be
| proposed in this case. To declare or
exercise a right to attack and destroy
any vessel entering a prescribed area
! of the high seas without first certain
| ly determining it's belligerent natiCn-
atty and the cOntraband character of
it's cargo would be act so unprece-
denied in naval warfare that this gov
| eminent is reluctant TO believe that
| the imperial government of Germany
in this case cOntemplates il as posi-
BILE.
Admits Right of Search.
1.-The suspicion that enemy ships
are using neutral flags improperly can
create no just presumption that all
ships traversing a prescribed area are
subject TO the same suspicion. 1t is
to determine exactly such questions
that this governments understands the
right of visit and searGhzt 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 pro-
clamatiOn of the German admiralty
and takes this occasion to remind the
. imperial German government very
. / respectfully that the government of
the United States Is open to none of
the criticisms for unneutral action to
which the German government be-
ieves the governments OF certain 9TH
er neutral nations have laid them
selves open; that the government of
the United States has not consented
to or acquiesced in any measures
, which may have been taken by the
! other bclligerent nations in the pres
ent war which operate to restrain
| neutral trade, but has on the contrary
taken in all such matters a position
which warrants it in holding those
, governments responsible in the proper
way for any untOWard effects on
American shipping which the accept
ed principles of international law do
not justify; and that il therefore re-
, CARDS itself as free in the present in
, stance TO take with clear conscience
and upon accepted principles the pO-
sition Indicated in this note.
Would BE Serious
IF the commanders of German yes
sells of war should act upon the pre-
S sumption that the flag of he United
States was not being used in good
faith and should destroy on the high
- seas an American vessel or the lives
of American citizens, it would be diff
ficult fer the government, of the
, United States to view the feet in any
other light than as an indefensible Vi
olauon of neutral rights which it
would be hard TO reconcile with the
friendly relations now So happily sub
! sisting between the two gOvernmen s.
If such a deplorable situation
should arise the imperial German gov
| eminent can readily appreciate that
the government of the United States
would be constrained TO hold the i'm
perial German government to a strict
I accountability for such acts of their
naval authorities and TO take any steps
il might be necessary 10 take 10 safe
guard American lives and property, to
secure to American citizens the full
I | enjoyment of their acknowledg ed
rights on the high seas.
Will Retain Right.
! The government of the United
States IN view of these considerations
. which il urges with the greatest re-
spect and with the sincere purpose OF
making sure that no misunderstand-
ing may arise and no circumstance oc-
; cur that might even cloud the inter
course OF the two governments express
the confident hope and expectation
that the imperial German government
can and will give assurance that
I American citizens and their vessels
will not be molested by the naval