American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-05-20
PRESIDENT ASKS DSAVOWAL;
Use OF SUBMARINES DEPLORED

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
titled confidence that their lives will
not be endangered by acts done In
clear violation OF universally acknowl-
edged international obligation, and
certainly in the confidence that their
own government will sustain them in
the exercise OF their right.
There was recently published In the
newspapers Of the United States, ! re-
greet to inform the imperial govern
ment. a formal warning, purporting to
come from the imperial German embas-
sy at Washington addressed to the
people of the United States, and sta
ting In effect, that any citizen of the
United States who exercised his right
of free travel upon the seas would do
so at his peril II his journey should
take him within the zone Of waters
within which the imperial German
navy was using submarines against the
m Of Great Britain and France,
Notwithstanding the respectful, but
very earnest protest of his govern
ment, the government OF the United
States.
II do not refer to this for the pur-
pose OF calling the attention of the i'm
perial German government at this time
to the surprising irregularity of a
communication from the imperial Ger
mar embassy at Washington addressed
to the people OF the United States
through the newspapers, but only for
the purpose OF pointing out that no
warning that a unlawful and in
humane act would be committed, a
possibly be accepted as an excuse or
p~alliation for that act, or as an abate-
ment OF the responsibility for its COM
mission.
Thinks Orders Misunderstood.
Long acquainted as this govern
ment has been with the character of
the imperial German government, and
with the high principles Of equity by
which they have In the past been
actuated and guided. the government
of the United States can not believe
that the commanders of the vessels
which committed these acts OF law
lessness did 80 except under a misap-
prehension OF the orders issued by the
German naval authorities. 1t takes It
for granted that, at least within the
practical possibilities of every such
case, the commanders even of sub
marines were expected to do nothing
that would involve the lives of non
combatants or the safety of neutral
ships. even at the cost Of failing of
their object of capture Or destruction.
ut confidently expects. therefore,
that the imperial German government
will disavow the acts of which the
government of the United States COM
plains, that they will make reparation,
so far as reparation Is possible, for in
juries which are without measu and
that they Will take immediate steps to
prevent the recurrence of anything so
obviously subversive of the principles
of warfare for which the imperial Ger
man government has In the past so
wisely and 30 firmly ~contended.
"The government and people OF the
United States look to the imperial Ger
man overnment for Just and prompt
and enlightened action In this vital
matter with the greater confidence
because the United States and Ger
many are bonud together, not only by
special ties of friendship, but also by
Nv NNPiittt btiPuiutiohS VI tnc lTtdlN
of 1923 between the United States and
the kingdom OF Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers of
%reparation In case of the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake while
they may satisfy international obiiga-
tons, II no loss of life results, can not
Justify or excuse IA practice. the nature
and necessity OF which is to subject
neutral nations and neutral persons to
new and immeasurable risks,
THE imperial German government
VIII not expect the government OF the
United States to omit any word or act
necessary to the performance OF it's
sacred duty of maintainin gthe rights
OF the United States and It's citizens,
and OF safeguarding their free exercise
and enjoyment. BRYAN"