The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-14

government TO . strict account.
ability for any infringement o(
those rights. intentional or inct
Genital. II does not understand the
Imperial German government to
qusstion those rights. n assumes.
Oh the cootrary. that the imperial
govsrnueat accept ~ Of course.
the rule that the lives OF non -cosa-
hatants. whether they be Of neutral
c!tiSenship or citizens Of one Of the
nattons ~ war. cannot lawfully %
rghtfully be put In jeopardy BY the
capture or destruction Of an un.
armed 'merchantman. and recognize
also, n all ether nations do. the
obligation TO take the usual pre-
caution Of the Wait and search 10
ascertain whether . suspected mer-
chairman 10 In fact Of eelligeren,
nationality or u In fact carrying
cootrSband OF var under q neutral
nag.
The government OF the United
States, therefore. desires 70 call tae
/ attention OF the Imperial German
government with the utmost earn,
esfness TO the fact that the objection
TO their present method Of attack
against the trade Of their enemies
lice n the practical impossibility OF
cntloSing submarines In the de.
sfruction OF commerce without dis
regarding those rules of fairness
reason. justice and humanity which
all modern opinion regards a. inn
peratirs. II 10 practically lmpossi-
bic for the ofacefs OF q srhrna Inc
20 visit q merchanfman al sen sn,l
exsmine her papers and cargo
Is practically Impossible for them 20
make o prize Of her; and. II they
cannot put q prize crew on board
OF her. they cannot sink her with
on: leaving her crew and all on
toGrd OF her to the mercy Of the
yea In her small boats. These facts
II is understood the Imperial Ger
rlar government frankly admit ",
ale informed that In the instances
of which xe have spoken time
enough for even that poor measure
Of safety wa not given. and N
least two OF the cases cited not
20 much - Q warning was rec
Msnifectly Submarines cannot be
used against merchantmen. as the
, last few weeks have shown. without
an Inevitable violation Of many sac.
red principles Of justice and human.
ify.
American citizens act within their
indisputable rights in taking their
shsps and in travelling Wherever
their legitimate business calls them
upon the high seas. and exercise
tnose rights IN what should be the
'sell justified confidence that their
E,ee will not be endanseyed By acts
done In clear violation OF universal
" acknowledged international obi
Cations. snd certainly In the conf.
cence. that their own government
Win sustain them IN the exercise
OF their rights.
There was recently published in
the newspapers of the United
States, I regret 20 inform the I'm
perisi German government, q for
Iasl warning. purporting to come
from the Imperial German embassy
@, Washington, addressed 10 the
reoEle OF the United States, and
stating. In effect, that any citizen
Of the United States Who exercised
bis right Of free travel upon the
seas would do so At his peril IL his
journey should take him within the
rome OF waters within which the I'm
rer'ai German navy vas using sub
marines against the commerce Of
Great Britain and France. notvith-
stsnding the respectful but very
earnest protest Of his government,
the government Of the United
States.
do not refer TO this for the
purpose OF calling the attention Of
the Imperial German government 1T
his time TO the surprising irresu-
iGfity o. communication from the
Imperial German embassy a. Wash.
ington addressed TO the people Of
the United States through the news
papers. but only for the purpose OF
pointing out that no warning that
an unlawful and inhumane act
would DO committed can be posi-.
bly, accepted 80 an excuse or palijs-
tior for that act or a. an abatement
OF TIE responsibility for lis commits
sion.
Long acquainted, ~ this govern
ment has been. With the character
Of the imperial German government
ana with the high principles OF
equity By which they have In the
past been actuated and guided. the
government OF the United States
osnnot believe that the command.
crs OF the vessels which committed
these acts OF lawiessness did % er.
cept under a misapprehension OF
the orders issued By the Imperial
German naval authorities. II takes
., for granted that. a. least within
TIE practical possibilities OF every
such csse. the commanders even OF
submarines were expected to do
nothing that would involve the lives
OF non-combatants or the safety OF