New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-12

Inc ICil IeAl Ol the HotCS " wv
many and Great Britain was mad
public at the State Department to
night, under date OF February 10. Th'
Secretary Of State instructed Ambsssa
ior &c. ID, at Berlin, to present Il
The German government a note TO the
effect:
The government Of the United
States, having had its attention di-
rected to the proclamation Of the
German Admiralty, issued on Feb
ruary 4. that the waters surround
ing Great Britain and Ireland. in
cludng the whole of the English
Channel, ere to be considered a
comprised within the seat OF war;
that a enemy merchant vessels
found in those waters after Feb
ruary Is will be destroyed, al
though it may rot always be posi-
Bile to save crews and passengers,
and that neutral vessels expose
themselves 10 danger within this
zone Of war, because, in view OF the
misuse of neutral flags said to have
been ordered by the British gov
ernment on January 81 and OF the
contingencies OF maritime warfare.
it may not be vssible always 10
exempt neutral vessels from at
tacks intended to strike enemy
ships, feels il TO be it's duty 10
call the attention OF the imperial
German government, with sincere
respect and the most friendly SEN
timents. but very csndidly and
earn sstly, TO the very serious possi-
bilities of the course Of action sp-
p.rently contemplated under ths,
proclamation.
The government Of the United
States ews these possibilities
with such grave concern that
il feels IL to be its privilege, and
indeed its duty in the circum-
stances. to request the i'm
perial German government to con.
slider before action is taken the
critical situation in respect OF the
Germany which might arise we're
the German naval forces, In carry
ing out the policy foreshsdoved In
the Admiralty's proclamation. to de-
strOy any merchant vessel OF the
United States or cause the death
OF American citizens.
Can Only Visit and Search.
IL is, OF course. not necessary TO
remind the German government
that the sole right Of belligerent
in dealing with neutral vessels on
the high seas is limited TO visit
and search, unless a blockade ~
proclaimed and effectively main
tanned, which this government does
mot understand to be proposed IN
this case. To declare or exercise
right TO attack and destrty any
vessel entering preseribed area
of the high seas without first GER
.ainly determining its beiligerent
nationality and the contrsband
character OF its cargo would be an
act so unprecedented in naval war
fare that this 7overr ment ~ re-
luctant TO believe that the imperial
government OF Germany in this
case contemplates it as possible.
The suspicion that enemy ships
are using neutral hags improperly
can create no just presumption that
all ships trayersing a prescribed
area are subject TO the same sus.,
piciou. II Is TO determine exactly
such questions that this govera-
ment understands the right Of visit
and search TO have been recognized.
This government has carefully
noted the explanatory statement is
sued by the imperial German gov
eminent at the same time wy
the proclamation OF the German
Admiralty. and takes this occasion
TO remind the imperial German gov
ernment very respectfully that the
government Of the United States 10
open 20 none OF the criticisms for
unneutral action To which the Ger
man government believes the gov
ernments Of certain othc- neutral
nations have laid themselves open;
that the government OF the United
States has not consented 10 or
acquiesced in any measures which
may have been taken by the other
belligercnt nations in the present
war which operate 10 restrain
trade. but has, on the contrary,
taken in all such matters q position
whien warrants II in holding those
governments responsible in the
proper way for any untoward es.
fects on American shipping which
the accepted principsles OF inter
national law do not justify, and
II therefore regards itself ss free
In the present inst9ee to take