The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-12
Right of American Ships to
Traverse High Seas in Peace
Must Be Unquestioned
Britain Warned
AS to Use of Flag
Misuse of American Colors En-
dangers Our Shipping and
Cannot Be Tolerated Text
of Notes

the United States tn the Govern
ments of Great Britain and Ger
many were made public here to-
day and prove TO h. the most
tigoro,,. assertions ut the rights
ri America as neutral yet made
by this Government.
Tho communication 10 Germany
~ considerably more severe In
time tfIHu fad been generally an
iictpated. 80 strong are the rep
REGULATIONS Ambassador Gerard
has been instructed to nake Ia
t.ernans with regard TO her inn
piled Intentions as to- neutral
shipping In the new war zone"
that they virtually commit the
United states to drastic measure
II dI~rcgarsied al Berlin.
The United states declares IL VIII
hold the German Government TO
sfrlct accountability for any act 81 us
Tasai officers resulting la the deStruc-
Jfcn NJ bona hdc American shipping.
or the loss IT American life. Ana
bassador Gerard will assert that should
German naval officer act upon the
assumption that the United States flag
was merely coneeainent If YES
~eFs identity and destroy an American
vessel or Amer. AN life on suct an as
sumption the United States would view
such an act as an indefeusibie viola
lion OF neutrality, and not compatible
with the continuance of friendly re.
'ations between the two governments.
Assurance Demanded.
Therefore. the United states asks
Of the German Government some as
ssranee that Americans and their vcs'
sells will not he molested upon the
lpigh seas By German naval forces eN-
rept through the exercise Of the
recognized right Of visit and search.
Fhe right 81 Americans and their Ses
Naie 10 be exempted from any danger
from German naval forces, even with
In the lirl1ita 81 the war zone declared
by Germany. Is vigorously asserted
throughout Tho entire note Ii IL de-
fiared that the nited States rcga rds
& as incredible tina, the German Gov
eminent shofld really intend 10 carry
MI it's operations in the nannev tnd'-
Gated In tl,e admiralty proclamation.
and i'm the supplementary memoran duu
issued hv the German foreign office.
While these strong representations
are made at Berlin. Ambassador Page,
Ak London. on the ether hand, il In
s.'rncted 10 inform the British foreign
Office that shc United States expects
Great Britain TO do all in her power
Ia restrain British vessels from the de-
ceptive use of the American flag In
the German war zone. He will state
-
would hold Great Eritain partially re-
sponsihle If American shipping or
American III. be lost as result OF
the encourage ent Of such use of the
flag.
Ambassador Page also is instructed
20 inform the British Government o.
the representations being made 10 Ger
many regarding the admiralty decree
while Ambassad dor Gerard Is TO notify
the German Government that the
United States is making representa-
tons regarding the unauthorized use
nj the American flag by British ship
ping The State Department regards
the two matters as closely related TO
aach other, especially as The German
Government las cited as Justification
sor t's action an alleged secret order
u Great Britain for Its vessels 10 fly
Neutral dags n dangerous waters.
The note 90 Germany denies IN q
spirited manner, SO far as the United
states Is concerned. the insinuations in
he German statements that neutrais
have been acauicscing in British acts
hostile To Germany.
Text of Note to Germany
Here Is line note 10 Germany.
THE government of the United
states. having had its attention dr.
rected 10 the proclamation Of the Ger
man admiralty. issued on the fourth
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 tSvl instant
will be destroyed. although 1t may
not always be possible to save erewe
and passengers: and that neutral ves-
sells expose themselves In danger with
in this zone of war because, in view
of the misuse of neutral flags said Ia
have been ordered BY the British gov
nment on the 3lst of January. and
OF the contingencies of maritime war
fare il may not he possible always
70 exempt neutral vessels from at
lacks intended to strike the enemy
ships. feels 1t to be it's duty TO call
attention of Nne imperial German gov
eminent, with sincere respect and the
most friendly sentiments. but very
randidly and earnestly I, the very
serious possibilities of the course OF
action apparently contemplated under
that proclamation.
IF he Unit Tod