Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-12
OFFICIAL U. S. WARNING
ISSUED TO GERMANY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 70.

WABttlNt1 1OlNF II tbs AH'
The text of Americas warning to Ger
many on the blockade threat is in the
form OF an official note to Ambassador
Gerard, at Berlin It Is.
"The Government of the United States,
having had It's attention directed TO the
proclamation of the German Admiralty
issued 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 be
destroyed. although 1t may not always
be 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 3lst
of January, and of the contingencies of
maritime warfare, 1t may not be possible
always to exempt neutral vessels from at
tacks intended to strike enemy ships,
feels it to be its duty to call the atten-
ton of the Imperial German Government,
with sincere respect and the most friendly
ly. to the very serious possibilities of
the course of action apparently contem-
plated under the proclamation.
"The Government OF the United States
Views those possibilities with such grave
concern that II feels It to be It's prvl-
lege, and Indeed Its duty to request the
imperial German Government to consider,
before action Is taken, the critical sltu-
alton In respect Of the relations between
this country and Germany, which might
arise were the German naval forces, In
carrying out the policy foreshadowed In
the Admralty's proclamation to destroy
any merchant vessel of the United States
or cause the death Of American citizens.
1T is, of course, not necessary to re-
mind the German Government that the
sole right of belligerent in dealing with
neutral vessels on the high seas is
limited to visit and search. unless a
blockade Is proclaimed and effectively
maintained, which this Government does
not understand to be proposed in this
case.
"To declare or exercise a right to at
tack and destroy any vessel entering a
prescribed area Of the high seas without
first certainly determining Its bellgerent
nationality and the contraband character
OF Its cargo would be an act so unprece-
dented 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 presumtion that all ships travers-
Ing a prescribed area are subject to the
same suspicion. 1t is to determine exact
ly such questions that this Government
understands the right of visit and search
to have been recognized.
This Government has carefully noted
the explanatory statement issued by the
Imperial German Government at the same
time with the proclamation of the Ger
man Admiralty, and takes this occasion
to remind the Imperial German Govern
ment very respectfully that the Govern
ment of the United States is open to
none of the criticisms for unneutral ac-
tion to which the German Government
believes the Governments of certain other
neutral nations have laid themselves
open; that the Government of the United
States has not consented to or ac-
quiesced in any measures which may have