Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-21
Who is safely plotting this
nation through gravest crisis
in history.


ngerent nationality or Is In fact car
rying contraband of war under a neu-
trail nag.
Seas Must Be Safe for Americans.
The government of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the at
tention of the imperial German gov
eminent, with the utmos earnestness,
to the fact that the objection to their
present method Of attack against the
trade of their enemies lies in the prac-
teal impossibility of employing suDmar
rines in the destruction of commerce
without disregarding those rules Of
fairness, reason, justice and humanity
which all modern opinion regards al
imperative. 1t is practically impos-
sible for the officers of submarine to
visit a merchantmen at sea and ex-
anime her papers and cargo. 1t 10
practically impossible for them 10
make a prize Of her; and. if they cam
not put q prize crew on board of her.
they cannot sink her without leaving
her crew and all on board of her to the
mercy of the sea in her ANAL boats.
These facts, It Is understood, the inn
perial German government frankly adj
stances Of which we have spoken time
enough for even that poor measure Of
safety was not given, and in at least
two Of the cases cited not 80 much as q
warning was received. Manitestly
submarines annot be used against
merchantmen. as the last few weeks
have shown, without an inevitable vio-
lation Of many sacred principles Of
justice and humanity.
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 well JUS
tiled confidence that their lives will
not be endangered by acts done in
clear violation Of universally acknowl-
edged International obligations, and
certainly In the confidence that their
own government will sustain them In
the exercise of their rights.
Warning 10 No Excuse.
There was recently published in the
newspapers of the United States, l re-
greet to inform the imperial German
government, a formal warning, pur-
porting to come from the imperial Ger
man embassy at Washington, adj
dressed to the people of the United
States and stating In effect that any
citizen of the United States who ex
ercised his right to travel upon tha
seas would do SO at his peril If his
journey should take him within the
gone Of waters within which the i'm
perial German navy vas using subma'
rines against the commerce of Great
Britain and France, notwithstanding
the respectful but very earnest protest
OF his government, the government Of
the United States. l do not refer t.
this for the purpose Of calling the at
tention Of the imperial German gov
eminent at this time to the surprising
irregularity Of a communication from
the imperial German embassy at Wash
ington addressed to the people of tn,
United States through the newspapers
but only for the purpose of pointing
out that no warning that an unlawful
and inhuman act will be COMMITTEES
can possibly be accepted as an excus
|, or palliation tcr that act, or as a.
abatement Of the responsibility for it
commission.
VIII Maintain Rights of v. s.
, Expressions of regret and offers
reparation in case Of the destructio
Of neutral ships sunk by mistak,
while they may satisfy information,
obligations II no loss Of life result
. cannot justify or xcuse a practice, th
natural and necessary effect of whic
. L. to subject neutral nations and ne
trail persons to new and immeasurab
risks.
Q THE imperial German governmel
' will not expect the government of Il
o United States to omit any work or al
action necessary to the performan.
OF Its sacred duty of maintaining Il
10 rights OF the United States and it's CT
ID lens and Of safeguarding their free
9 ercise and enjoyment.
y (signed) BRYAN"