Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-02-17
Warnings to Britain
and Germany.
NEu1RAts GET COPIES
Representations Create Sensa-
ton Among Diplomats.

Washington, Feb. adjudication
by the state department of the text
of the notes sent to Great Britain and
Germany, respectively, revealed that
both countries are warned in most
emphatic terms against menacing the
vessels or lives of American citizens
traversing the recently proclaimed sea
zones of war.
Germany is advised that the United
States would be constrained to hold
the imperial government to strict
accountability" for such acts of it's
naval authorities as might result in
the destruction of American vessels
or the loss Of American lives and that
If such deplorable situation should
arise" the American government
would take any steps necessary to
safeguard American lives and prop
erty.
To Great Britain the United States
pointed out 1.-The measure of respon-
sibility" which would seem to be i'm
posed on the British government for
the loss Of American vessels and lives
In case of an attack by a German
naval force if England sanctioned
the general misuse of the American
flag by British vessels and thereby
cast doubt upon the valid character
of neutral ensigns.
Revised by Wilson and Bryan.
The two communications were pre-
scented respectively to the British gov
eminent by Ambassador Page and to
the German foreign Office by Ambassa-
dor Gerard. They were prepared by
Counsellor Robert Lansing and re-
vised by President Wilson and Secre-
tary Bryan after consultation with the
entire cabinet.
The British, Spanish and Brazilian
ambassadors, who happened to call at
the state department, were given
copies of the notes, as were the min
listers of Sweden, Norway and Den
mark, who specially requested it. The
documents created something of a
sensation among the diplomats gen.
orally because of what some regarded
rs their drastic implications.
High officials of the American gov
eminent pointed out Informally that
it had been deemed advisable to speak
In unmistakable terms now rather
than to await the alarming effect upon
American public opinion which might
ensue from the sinking of vessel
with scores Of American citizens. The
notes, officials were confident, would
serve as a preventive of the critical
possibilities discussed in them.
Strong Note to Germany.
Diplomats examined with great in
terest the language of the communica-
tons and some of them construed the
note to Germany as warning that
the loss of American lives by sinking
even merchant ship owned by bel
Ngerent would be covered by the rep
reservations of the American govern
ment, because of the insistence that
all merchant ships must be visited and
searched and passengers taken of be-
fore they can be sunk.
In discussing the notes officials
pointed out that the representations
to Great Britain are not based speci-
flcally On the use by the Lusitania of
the American flag or any other ship,
because it is not rare ruse of war
to hoist neutral flag when escaping
capture, and vessels of both sides
among the belligerents in the present
war already had made such use of
them, as had American vessels in pre-
vious wars.
The distinction emphasized is that,
aside from the legal propriety which
Is reserved for future discussion, gen.
eral misuse of a neutral flag by a bel
ligerent is a violation of international
comfy and neighborliness, liable to
produce serious dangers for the neu-
trial.