Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-12
WARNING 1O TWO
nations VIGOROUS
NOTES SENT TO GERMANY
AND ENGLAND.
GERMANY MUST MAKE SURE
BEFORE ATTACKING SHIPS
United States Will Not condone Cap
,turs or Damage Of ships-Grsat
Britain Informed Stars and Stripes
Can Not 30 Put to Common Uss-
Neutrality RsdeeIarsd.

by the state department last night OF
the text of the notes sent Wednesday
to Great Britain and Germany, re-
spectively, revealed that both countries
had been warned in most empnatic
terms against menacing the vessels or
lives of American citizens traversins
the recently proclaimed sea zones OF
war.
Germany was advised that the
United States would be constrained TO
hold the imperial government to a
strict accountability" for such acts OF
its naval authorities as might result
In the destruction Of American vessels
or the loss Of American lives and that
IL such a deplorable situation should
arise" the American government
would take any steps 1t might be nee
essary to take to safeguard American
lives and property"
To Great Britain, the United States
pointed out the measure CT respon-
sibility" which would seem to be I'M
posed on the British government Tor
the loss Of American vessels and lives
in case Of an attack by German
naval force" il England sanctioned the
general misuse Of the American flag by
British vessels and thereby cast doubt
upon the valid character OF neutral
ensigns.
The two communications were TO
have been presented today respective
Nv to the British government by AM
bassador Page and German foreign Of
flee by Ambassador Gerard. They were
prepared by Counsellor Robert Lans-
ing and revised by President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan after consulta-
ton with the entire cabinet.
NeutraIs Are Notified.
The British, Spanish and Brazilian
ambassadors, who happened to call
at the state department. were given
copies of the notes as were the min
listers of Sweden, Norway and Den
mark who specially requested It.
The documents created something
of sensation among tho diplomats
generally because Of what some re-
garded as their drastic implications.
High officials Of the American gov
eminent pointed out Informally that
It had been deemed advisable to speak
in unmistakable terms now rather
than to wait the alarming effect upon
American public opinion which might
ensue from the sinking OF Vessei
with scores of American citizens.
The notes, officials were confident,
would serve as q preventative OF the
critical possibility discussed In them.
Diplomats Views.
Diplomats examined with great In
terest the language Of the communi-
cations and some OF them construed
the note to Germany as q warning
that the loss Of American lives by
sinking even a belligerent merchant
ship would be covered by the rep
reservations OF the American govern
ment because Of the insistence that
all merchant ships must be visited,
and searched and passengers taken
off before ships can be sunk.
Note TO Germany.
The full texts Of the notes as made
public all the state department last
night follows:
Feb. 10, 1915.
.The secretary Of state has in
structed Ambassador Gerard at Ber-
lin TO present to the German govern
ment a note to the following effect:
The government Of the United
states, having had It's attention d.
rected to the proclamation of the
German admiralty issued on the 4th
of February, that the waters sur
rounding Great Britain and Ireland.
including the whole Of the English
channel, are to be considered as COM
prised within the seat Of war; that all
enemy merchant vessels found In those
waters after the eighteenth instant
will be destroyed, altho It may not
always be possible to save crews and
passengers; 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 govern
ment on the 31st OF January and Of
the contingency Of maritime warfare,
Il may not be possible always to.
EXEMPT neutral vessels from attacks
intended to strike enamy ships, feels
Il to be its duty to call the attention
Of the Imperial German government.
with sincere respect and the most
friendly sentiments but very candidly
and earnestly, to the very serious
possibilities Of the course of action
apparently contemplated under, that
proclamation. Co.
Look Before You Leap.
".The government of the United
states views those possibilities with
snch grave concern that 1t feels 1t TO
he it's privilege and indeed its duty
in the circumstances 20 request the
Imperial German government to con-
slider before action ID taken, the crit
ical situation In respect Of the rela-
ton between this country and Ger
many which might arise were the
German naval forces in carrying out
the policy foreshadowed in the adj
miralty's proclamation, to destroy any
merchant vessels Of the United States
or cause the death of American citi-
sens.
Drastic Innovation.
"It is, Of course, not necessary to
remind the German government that
the sole right OF, a belligerent in deal
Ing with neutral vessels on the high
seas Is limited to visit and search, un-
less q, blockade is proclaimed and eff
feetively maintained. which this gov
eminent does not understand to be
proposed in this case. 10 declare or
exercise right to destroy any vessel
entering q prescribed area of the high
sef,s without first certainly determin-
tic rs ,,ss.!..serens nationality and the
.Jrtraband character Of tits cargo
would be an act so unprecedented IN
naval warfare thst this. government
,s reluctant to believe that Y the itnT
perial government Of Germany in this