Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-02-12
NEUTRALITY MAY
 PROVOKE CRISIS John Bull Told Deceptive Use of American Flag Will
 Not Be Tolerated. GERMANY MUSTN'T
 BLOW UP OUR SHIPS
kaiser'S GL vernmGnt Informed That It Will Be Held to ssStrict AccOunta. bility" Should Emitted States
 Ships Be Destroyed.
(By Justice McGrath.0


 Washington, Feb. 11.-Notes sent to Great Britain and Germany and made public by the state department tonight indicate the possibility of a crisis in the efforts of the United States gov ernment to maintaiA aeutrality toward the European bellgerents.
 In It's note to Great Britain OH the deceptive use by British vessels of the American flag, the state department says:
 '.The government of the CM. cd States, therefore, trusts that his niA.i. osty's government will do all in their power ta restrain vessels of British nationality from the deceptive use of the flag of the United States in the scn area defined in the German declar- Ation, since sRch prsetice would ercat- ly endanger the vessels of 8 friendly power navigating those waters, and would even seem to impose upon the government of Grea. Britain meas. ure of responsibility for the loss of American lives and vessels In case of an attack by German naval force" In the note to Germany, the German government is informed that the Unit ed States would consider it an "inde- fensible violation of neutral rights" if commanders of German vessels of war should act upon the assumption that the flag of the United States was not being used in good faith, and should destroy on the high seas any American vessels or the lives of American citi- zens.
 Then this warning is given to Ger many:
 "If such q deplcrable situation should arise, the imperial German gov ernmeDt can readily appreciate that the government of the United States would be constrained to hold the im- periaI German government to strict accountability for such acts of their naval authorities, and to tak> any steps 1t might be necessary to take to safeguard American lives and proper. ty. and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their aeknowi- edged rights on the high seas."
 The reply of Great Britain is not expected to raise an issue between the two governments, because 1t IS generally regarded as inconceivabie that Great Britain should seek to maintain the right of her, vessels to use the flag of the United States. de- spite the United States protest And | if Great Britain comedies that the de- ceptive use of the American flag is wrong. she must, in the opinion of state department officials. express her regret that justifiable cause of con- plaint has heap given. and pledge her. self to do. all she can to avoid such cause of offcnse and danger in the future.
 win Germany Reoedei But it is admitted that the reply which Germany will make to this gov- arnment's representations will be awaited with some concern. If Germany shall refuse to recede from her position that neutral vessels entering the sea war zone which she has declared. do so at their own risk. ! it is admitted that very serious situ- ation will be presented.
 1 In that case. the United States would be confronted with the alterna- tive either of warming its merchant rC~.4a.A n.~> >oN