The Washington herald., 1915-02-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

United States is making representations
regarding the unauthorized use OF the
American flag by British shipping. The
State Department regards the two mat
ters as closely related to one another.
especially as the German government
has claimed as justification for its ac-
ton the alleged secret order Of Great
Britain for it's vessels to fly neutral flags
in dangerous waters. The note TO Ger
many, furthermore. denies in a most
spirited manner the insinuations in
the German statements that neutrals
have been acquiescing in British acts hos
tile to Germany applies in any degree 10
this government.
Here is the note sent TO Germany:
The Secretary Of State has instructed
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin TO present
to the German government note to the
following effect:
The government OF the United States.
having had its attention directed to the
proclamation OF the German admiralty
on the 4th Of February. that the
waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland. including the whole of the Eng
lish Channel, are to be considered as
comprised within the seat of war; that
all enemy merchant vessels found in
those waters after the 18th instant will
he destroyed, although It may not always
he possible to save crews and passen-
gers: and that neutral vessels expose
themselves to danger within this zone of
war because in view of the misuse OF
neutral flags said to have been ordered
by the British government on the Gst
of January and OF the contingencies of
maritime warfare, il may not be possible
always to exempt neutral vessels from
attacks Intended to strike the enemy
ships. feels IT to be its duty to call at
tentiOn OF the imperial German govern
ment with sincere respect and the most
friendly sentiments but very candidly and
earnestly. to the very serious possibilities
of the course of action apparently con-
templated under that proclamation.
The government OF the United States
views those possibilities with such grave
concern that it feels II to be it's pTtvi-
lege. and indeed its duty in the circun-
stances. to request the imperial German
government to consider before action Is
taken the critical situation in respect of
the relation between this country and
Germany which might arise were the
German naval forces. in carrying out the
policy foreshadowed in the admiralty's
proclamation. to destroy any merchant
vessel OF the United States or cause the
death of American citizens.
"It is OF course not necessary TO re-
mind the German government that the
sole right OF a belllgerent in dealing with
neutral vessels on the high seas Is limit
ed TO visit and search, unless q blockade
Is proclaimed and effectively maintained,
which this government does not under
stand to be proposed in this case. To
declare or exercise a right to attack and
destroy any vessels entering q prescrib-
ed area of the high seas without hrst
certainly determining its belligerent ma
tionaIity 'and the contraband character
of its cargo would be an act % unpre-
cedented in naval warfare that this gov
ernment is reluctant TO believe that the
imperial government OF Germany in this
case contemplates II as possible. The
suspicion that enemy ships are using
neutral flags Improperly can create no
just presumption that all ships travers-
ing a prescribed area are subject to the
same suspicion. It Is to determine ex-
sctly such questions that this govern
ment understands the right Of visit and
search to have been recognised.
This government has carefully noted