The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-14
AMERICAN ULTIMATUM
SENT TO KAISER
(Continiied from page IL

matters Of international right and
particularly with regard to the free
dom of the seas; having learned to
recognize the German views and the
German influence in the field OF IN
ternational obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side of justice ana
humanity; and having understood the
instructions of the imperial German
government to its naval commanders
to be upon the same plane of humane
action prescribed. by the nava! codes
of other nations, the government OF
| the United States was loath to believe
lit can not now bring itself to believe
that these acts, SO absolutely con-
trary to the rules, the practices, and
the spirit OF modern warfare. could
have the countenance or sanction OF
that great government.
Utmost Frankness.
TT feels it to be its duty, therefore,
to address the imperial German gov.
eminent concerning them with the
utmost frankness and In the earnest
hope that 1t is not mistaken in expect
| ing action on the part of the imperial
German government, which Will cor.
rect the unfortunate Impressions
which have been created and vindi-
cate once more the position of that
government with regard to the sacred
freedom Of the seas.
"The government Of the United
States has been apprtsed that the I'M
perial German government considered
themselves to be obliged by the e1-
traordinary circumstances OF the pres
| ent war and the measures adopted by
their adversaries in seeking to cut
| Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods Of retaliation which go
much beyond the ordinary methods OF
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 shipmasters or
of American citizens bound on lawful
errands as passengers on merchant
ships Of belligere1t nationality; and
that It must hold the imperial Ger
man government to strict account
ability for any infringement of those
rights, Intentional or incidental.
| ut does not understand the imper-
1 ial German government to ques-
ton those rights. 1t assumes,
on the contrary, that the I'M
perial German government accept, as
Of course, the rule that the lives OF
non-comhatants, whether they be OF
neutral citizenship or citizens of one
Of the nations at war, cannot lawfully
or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the
| capture or destruction of an unarmed
merchantmen, and recognize also, as
all other nations do, the obligation TO
take the usual precaution of visit and
search to ascertain whether sus-
pected merchantmen is in fact OF bel
! ligerent nationality or Is In fact carry
ing contraband Of war under neu.
trail flag.
objection TO Method.
"The government of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the
attention OF the imperial German gov.
eminent 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
practical impossibility of employing
submarines in the destruction OF COM
merce without disregarding those
rules OF fairness, reason, justice, and
| humanity, which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t Is practic-
alIy impossible for the officers of a
submarine to visit merchantmen at
sea and examine her papers and
cargo. It Is practically impossible for
them to make a prize of her, and, If
they cannot put prize crew on board
OF her. they cannot sink her without
leaving crew and all on board of her
to the mercy Of the sea in her small
boats.
These facts, 1t Is understood, the
imperial German government frankly
admit We are Informed that in the
instances of which we have spoken
time enough for even that poor meas
ure Of safety was not given, and In at
least two Of the cases cited not 80
much as warning was received.
Manifestly submarines cannot be used
against merchantmen, as the last few
weeks have shown, without an newt
able violation Of many sacred prin-
ciples of Justice and humanity.
lndIsputabIe Rights.
american citizens act within their
indisputable rights in taking their
! ships and in travelling wherever their
Legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas, and exercise those
rights in what should be the we'll
justified confidence that their lives
will not be endangered by acts done
in clear violation Of universally &C.
knowledged international obligation,
and certainly In the confidence that
their own government will sustain
them in the exercise of their rights.
There was recently published in
the newspapers of the United States
l. log1 Inn nr1a1