The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-22

the government of the United States |
has observed with growing concern,
distress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight
ened attitude hitherto assumed b.;
the imperial German government in
matters of international right, and
particularly with regard to the free
dom Of the seas; having learned to
recognize the German views and the
German influence in the field Of in.
ternational obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side of justice and nu-
manity; and having understood the in
structions Of the imperial German
government to its naval commanders
to be upon the same plane Of humare
action prescribed by the naval codes
of other nations, the government of
the United States was loath to believe
it cannot now bring itself to believe
that these acts so absolutely con-
trary to the rules. the practices and
the spirit Of modern warfare. could
have the countenance or sanction OF
that great government It f,.els it to
be it's duty therefore to address the
imperial German government concern
ing them with the utmost frankness
and in the earnest hope that it is
not mistaken in expecting action on
the part of the imperial German gov
eminent, which will correct the un.
favorable impressions which have
been created and vindicate once more
the position of that government with
regard to the sacred freedom Of the
seas.
No War Zone Rights Over Americans.
"The government of the United
States has been apprised that the i'm
perial German government consider
ed themselves to be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances of the
present war and the measures adopt
ed by their adversaries in seeking to
cut Germany off from all commerce,
to adopt methods Of retaliation which
go much beyond the ordinary meth
DDS Of warfare at sea in the proclama-
ton of a war zone, from which they
have warned neutral ships to keer
away. This government has already
taken occasion to inform the imperial
German government that 1t cannot
admit the adoption OF such measures
or such a warning of dangers to ope
rate as in any degree an abbrevia
tion of the rights of American ship
masters or of American citizens
bound on lawful errands as passen
gers on merchant ships Of belligereni
nationality; and that 1t must hold the
imperial German government to 8
strict accountability for any infringe
, ment of those rights, intention or IN
: cidental.
!. "Tt does not understand the ir
= perial German government to question
those rights. It assumes on the con
trary that the imperial government
/, accepts, as of course, the rule that thu
lives of noncombatants, whether the!
!. be OF neutral citizenship or citizon
of one of the nations at war, canno
lawfully or rightfully be put IN jeo
pardy by the capture or destruction
. of an unarmed merchantmen and rec
= ognizes also, as all other natio's do
> the obligation to take the usual pre-
caution to ascertain whether n sur
posed merchantmen is in fact of belie
erent nationality or is in act carry
=" ing contraband of war under neutrr
flag.
+. Protest Against Submarine Warfare
It "The government OF the Unite
y States, therefore, desires to call tn
10 attention of the imperial German go,
ernment, with the utmost earnestnes.
e to the. fact that the objection t
h. their present method of attack agains
ID the trade Of their enemies lies In tn
sr practical impossibility Of employin
O. submarines in the destruction of con
merce without desregardtng thos
rules of fairness, reason, justice an
!, humanity which all modern opinio
,s regards as imperative. 1t is pract
cally impossible for the officers Of
submarine to visit a merchantman .
sea anu cAdduihC hCh PdPCio ouu Ca
no go. 1t is practically impossible fc
them to make a prize of her and
n, they cannot put a prize crew on noar
90 of her, they cannot sink her witho,
tn leaving her crew and all On board ,
her to the mercy Of the sea in ht
- small boats. These racts, It Is unde
!. stood. the imperial German goverl
=, ment frankly admits. We arc info-r
co ed that in the instances of whic
., we have spoken time enough for eve
y. that poor measure of safety was n,
.. given and in at least two of the cas-,
,a cited not so much as a warning w
"A received. Marifestly subma ines CT
M not be used against merchantmen. &
,r the last few weeks have shown wit
or out an inevitable violation OF mar
sacred principles Of justice and h
manity.
as viii Uphold Rights Of Americans.
an american citizens act within the
gh fndisputable rights In taking the
'ri- ships and in travelling wherever the
X legitimate business calls them upt
sci the high seas and exercise tho
he right in what should be the well ju
An titled confidence that their lives W
ma not be endangered by acts done
or clear violation of universally acsnov