The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-12
SENSATION IS CAUSED AMONG DIPLOMATS
High Officials Pointed Out That It Is Consid- cred Advisable to Take Action Now In Such Manner That This Country's Position
 Would Not Be Misunderstood

Washington. Feb 1-Publcaton by the state department tonight Of the text of the notes sent yesterday to Great Britain and Germany, respec- lively, revealed that both countries had been warned in most emphatic terms against menacing the vessels or lives of American citizens trayersing the recently proclaimed sea zones of war
 Germany was advised that the United States would be constrained to hold the imperial government to a strict accountabi 'ity' for such acts Of its naval authorities as might result in the destruction of American yes sels ar the loss of American lives. and that if such a deplorable situa- tion should arise" the American gov ernment would take any steps it might be necessary to take to safe guard American lives and property
 To Great Britain the United states pointed out the measure of respOnsl- bility' which would seem to be i'm posed upon the British government flor the loss of American vessels and lives in case of an attack by a German naval force" if Eng and sanctioned the general misuse of the American flag by British vessels and thereby cast doubt upon the valid character of neutral ensigns.
 The two communication were to have been presented today respec- lively to the British government by Ambassador Page and the German foreign office by Ambassador Gerard. They were prepared by Counsellor Robert Lansing and revised by Presi- dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan after consultation with the entire cabinet.
 The British, Spanish and Brazilian ambassadors. who happened to call at the state department, We're given copies of the notes, as were the min isters of Sweden, Norway and Den mark. who specially requested it. The documents created something of a sensation among the diplomats gen orally because of what some regarded as their drastic implications. High of gicials iof the American government pointed out informally that it had been G Aemed advisable to speak in un- mistakable terms now rather than to await the alarming effect upon Ameri- can public opinion which might ensue from the sinking of a vessel with scores of American citizens.
 The notes, officials were confident would serve as a preventive of the critical possibilities discussed in them
 Diplomats examined with great in' terest the language of the communi- cations and some of them construed the note to Germany as a warning that the loss of American lives by sinking even a merchant ship of a belligerent power would be covered by the representations of the Amerl can government because of the in sistence that all merchant ships must be visited and searched and messengers taken off before ships can be sunk.
 The full text of the notes as madf nublic at the state department tonight fo lows:
 "February 10, 1915.
 "The secretary of state has instruct cd Ambassador Gerard at Berlin t' present the German government note to the following effect:
 "'The government Of the uniteC States having had it's attention direct cd to the proclamation of the German admiralty, issued on the 4th or ten ruary. that the waters surroundlni Great Britain and Ireland, includlnl the whole of the English channel arr to be considered as comprised within the seat of war; that all enemy meF chant vessels found in those water after the 18th instant will be dc stnoyed. although it may not away he possible to save crews and passer gers: and that neutral vessels expos themselves to danger within this zon