Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-14

Imperial tTeEUl1n government concern
ing them with the utmost frankness
and In the earnest hope that 1t is not
mistaken in expecting action on the
part Of the imperial German govern
ment which win correct the unfortu-
nate impressions which have been Gre
ated and vindicate once more the posi-
ton of that government with regard to
the sacred freedom Of the seas.
The government of the United States
has been apprised that the imperial
German government considered them
selves to be obligated by the extraordi-
nary circumstances OF the present war
and the measures adopted by their ad-
versaries In seeking to cut Germany of
from all commerce to adopt methods
OF retaliation which go much beyona
the ordinary methods Of warfare at sea
In the proclamation of a war zone from
which they have warned neutral ships
to keep away.
This government has already taken
occasion to informthe imperial Ger
man government tlAt it cannot admit
the adoption OF such measures or such
. warning of danger to operate as In
any degree an Authorization OF the
rights Of American shipmasters or of
American citizens bound on lawful er-
rands as passengers on merchant ships
Of beiligerent nationality and that 1t
must hold the imperial German gov
ernment to strict accountability for
any infringement Of these rights, inten-
nonai or incidental. 1t does not un-
derstand the imperial German govern
ment to question those rights. 1t as
sumes. on the contrary, that the i'm
perial German government accept as
Of course the rule that the lives of nom
ombatants whether they be OF neutral
citizenship or citizens OF one of the
nations at war, cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture
or destruction of an unarmed mer
chairman and recognize also, as all
other nations do, the obligation to take
the usual precaution of visit and search
to ascertain whether a suspected mer-
tionality or is In fact carrying con
traband of war under neutral flag.
inspection la Difficult.
The government Of the United States
therefore desires to call the attention
OF the imperial German government
with the utmost enrnestness to The fact
that the objection to their present
method Of attack against the trade OF
their enemies lies In the practical i'm
possibility of employing submarines In
the destruction of commerce without
disregarding those rules of fairness,
justice and humanity, which all mod
ern opinion regards as imperative. 1t
is practically impossible for the officers
of submarine to visit merchantmen
at sea and examine her papers and
cargo.
1t is practically impossible for them
to make a prize of her, and if they
cannot put a prize crew on board of
her they cannot sink her without leay-
ing her crew and all on board of her to
the mercy of the sea In her small boats.
These facts it is understood the impe-
rial German government frankly ad-
nit We are informed that in the In
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 so much as
warning was received. Manifestly
submarines cannot be used against
merchantmen. as the last few weeks
have shown, without an inevitable vio-
lation of many sacrificed principles of
justice and humanity.
Acting Within Rights.
American citizens act within their in
disputable rights In taking their ships
and In travelling wherever their legiti-
mate business calls them upon the high
seas and exercise those rights in what
should be the well justified confidence