Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-14

by acts done in clear violation of uni
versally acknowledged international OBJ
legations and certainly In the confidence
that their own government will sustain
them in the exercise of their rights
There was recently published in the
newspapers Of the United States. re-
gret to inform the imperial German
government, formal warning, pur-
porting to come from the imperial Ger
man embassy at Washington, addressed
to the people Of the United States and
stating in effect that any citizen OF the
United States who exercised his right
of free travel npon the seas would do
so at his peril II his journey should
take him within the zone of waters
within which the imperial German
navy was using submarines against the
commerce Of Great Britain and France
notwithstanding the respectful but
very earnest protest of his government,
the government of the United States.
do not refer to this for the purpose
of calling the attention of the imperial
German government at this time to the
surprising irregularity Of a eommuni
cation from the imperial German EN-.
bassy at Washington addressed to the
people of the United States through
the newspapers, but only for the pur-
pose OF pointing out that no warning
that an unlawful and inhumane act
win be committed can possibly be ac-
cepted as an excuse or palliation for
that act or as an abatement of the re-
sponsibility for It's com mission.
Under Misapprshension.
Long acquainted as this government
has been with the character Of the In
perfal German government and with
the high principles of equity by which
they have in the past been actuated
and guided, the government of the
United States cannot believe that the
commanders of the vessels which COM
mitted these acts of lanlessness did so
except under a misapprehension of the
orders issued by the imperial German
naval authorities. 1t takes 1t for grant
ed that at least within the practical
possibility OF every such case the com
tnanders of submarines were expected
lives Of noncombatants or the safety
of neutral ships, even at the cost Of
failing Of their object OF capture or de-
sfrsiction. II confidently expects there
fore that the Imperial German govern
ment win disavow the acts Of which
the government OF the United States
complains, that they viii make repara-
tion 80 far as reparation Is possible for
injuries which are without measure
and that they will take immediate
steps to prevent the recurrence of any
thing so obviously subyersive Of the
principles of warfare for which the i'm
perial German government have in the
past SO wisely and SO firmly contended
The government and people Of the
United States look to the imperial Ger
man government for just, prompt and
enlightened action in this vital matter
with the greatest confidence. because
the United States and Germany are
bound together not only by special ties
of friendship, but also by the explicit
stipulations of the treaty of 1898 be-
tween the United States and the king
dom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers OF
in case of the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake while
they may satisfy international obliga
tions, 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 per-
sons to new and Unreasonable 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
its sacred duty of maintaining the
rights of the United States and its citi-
zens and of Safeguarding their free
exe1 else and enjoyment.