The Harrison times., 1915-05-22

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, ard
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 or
that great government 1t feels It TO
be- its duty therefore TO address the
imperial German government concern
ing them with the utmost frankness
and in the earnest hope that 1t IS
not mistaken in expecting action on
the part OF the imperial German gov
ernment, 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 10 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
20 much beyond the ordinary meth
ods of warfare at sea In the proclama-
tion of war zone, from which they
have warned neutral ships to Keep
away. This government has already
taken occasion TO inform the imperial
German government that It cannot
admit the adoption Of such measures
or such a warning OF dangers to ope'
rate as In any degree All abbrevia'
ton OF the rights OF American ship
masters or OF American citizens
bound on lawful errands ns passen
gers on merchant ships Of belligerent
nationality; and that It must hold the
imperial German government to n
strict accountability for any infringe
ment Of those rights, intention or In
cidental,
"It does not understand the i'm.
perial German government 10 question
those rights, It assumes on the con.
trary that the imperial government
accepts, az OF course, the rulo that the
lives Of noncombatants, whether they
be of neutral citizenship or citI2ons
OF ono Of the nations ut war; cannot
lawfully or rightfully be put n jco'
pardy by the capture or destruction
OF an unarmed merchantmen and rec
ogni2es also, as all other natlo's do
the obligation to take the usual pre-.
caution TO ascertain whether q sup
posed merchantmen is IN fact Of belly.
eront nationality or IL in act carry.
ing contraband of war under neutral
flag
Protest Against Submarine Warfare.
"The government OF the United
states, therefore, desires TO call the
attention OF the imperial German gov
crnm0nt, with the utmost carncstnes9
20 the fact that tho objection TO
their present method OF attack against
the trade Of their enemies lies in the
practical imposslbilty Of employing
submarines in the destruction OF com.
mcrco without desrCgardlng those
rules OF fairness, reason, hgtlCe and
humanity which all modern opinion
regards ~ imperative Il Ia practi'
cally impossible for the officers Of 4
submarine 10 visit merchantmen vt
sea and examine her papers and car.
20, II is practically impossible for
them 20 make prize OF hcr and II
they cannot put a nrlse crew on neafd
Of her, they cannot sink her without
leaving her crew and all on board "
her 10 the mercy Of the sca In her
small boats These racts, II IN under
stood, the imperial German govern
ment frankly admita We are inforn,'
cd that IN the instances Of which
we have spoken time enough for even
that poor measure OF safety was not
given and In at least two OF The cases
cited not so much "a n warning wl5
received, MAnifoatly subma ineo can
not be uaed against merchantmen, Ae
lhe last fow weeks have shown with.
out an inevitable violation of many
mcrtd principles Of Justice and hn'
mNnlty
viii Uphold RIqhta Of Americans,
uAV,apIaan aitigNna act within thaip