The Spectator., 1915-05-18

lH6IS was ItCeully II. the newspapers of the United States, | regret to inform the imperial Ger man government, formal warning, purporting to come from the imperial ! German embassy at Washington, ad- dressed to the people of the UniteI States and stating in effect that any citizen of the United States who ex ercised his right of free travel upon the high seas would do so at his peril if his journey should take him within the zone of waters within which the imperial German navy was using submarines against the com merce of Great Britain and France, notwith standing the respectful, but very earnest, protest of the govern 1nent of the United States
 Surprising lrregularity" of Embassy. 'I do not refer to this for the pur- pose of calling attention of the i'm perial German government at this time to the surprising irregularity of communication from the imperlal German embassy at Washington .ad- dressed to the people of the United 1 State through the newspapers, but only for the purpose of pointing out &hat no warning that an unlawful and inhumane act would be committed can possibly be accepted as ar excuse or palliation of that act or as an abatement of the responsibility for its commitment
 tNI I,t ment has been. with the character of 1 the imperial German government and with the high principles of equity by
 which in the past they have been ac- tuated and guided the government of the United States cannot believe the commanders of the vessels which committed these acts of lawlessness 1 did so except under misapprehon- i sion of the orders issued by the i'm 1 per1al German naval authorities. It 1 takes it for granted that. at least within the practical possibilities of every such case the commanders l even of submarines were expected to i do nothing that would involve the i lies of noncombatants or the safety of neutral ships even at the cost of l failing of their object of capture or l destruction. It confidently expects, l therefore. that the imperial German l government will dfsavow the acts of which the government of the United i States complains; that they will make reparation so far as reparation is possible for injuries which are without measure and that they will take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles Of war fare for which the imperial German government in the past have so wisely and so firmly contended
 Expects Prompt Action.
 The government and people of i tEe United States look to the imperial German government for just, prompt and enlightened action in this vital matter with the greater confidence
 because the United States ani Ger many are bound together not only hy special ties of friendship, but also by the explicit stipulations of the treaty 1 of 1S2S 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 obligations if no loss of life results, cannot justify or excuse practice, the natural and necessary effect of which is to subject neutral nations and neutral persons to new and lil- measurable risks.
 The imperial German government will not expect the government Of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance
 of it's sacred duty of maintaining the
 rights of the United States and its free exercise and enjoyment.
 "Pryap