Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-12

spectfu1ly that the government Of the United States is open to none of the criticisms for unneutral action to which the German government believes the governments of certain other neu- tral nations have laid themselves open: that the government of the United States has not consented to or ac- quieSced in any measures which may have been taken by the other belli- gerent nations III the present war which operate to restrain neutral trade. but has on the contrary taken in all such matters a, position which warrants it in holding those govern nents responsible in the proper way for any untoWard effects on American shipping which the accepted principles of international law do not justify; and that 1t, therefore, regards itself as free in the present instance to take, with a. clear conscience and upon accepted principles the. position indicated in this note.
 vessels of war should act upon the presumption that the flag of the United States was net being used in good faith and should destroy on the high seas an American vessel or the lives of American citizens, It would be difficult for the government of the United States to view the action in
 
 violation of neutral rights, which it would he very hard indeed to recon cile with the friendly relations ncw happily sUbsisting between the two governments.
 If such a dcpioral,le situation should arise, the imperial German government can readily. appreciate that the government Of the United States would be constrained to hold the i'm peria1 German government to a. strict accountability for such acts Of their naval authorities and to take any steps it might be. necessary to take to safe guard American lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas.
 '' The government of the United States, in view of. these considerations, which it urges with the greatest re- spsct and with the sincere purpose of making sure than no misunderstanding may arise. and no circumstances oc- cur that might even cloud tiie inter course of the two governments, -ex- presses the confident hope and expec- tation that the imperial German gov er7lment can and will give asurance that American citizens and their ves- sels will not be uaolested by the naval forces of Germany otherwise than by visit and search; thoqgh their vessels may be traverslag the sea area. de- limited in the proclamation Of the German admiralty
 ,'' Tt is added for the information of the imperial German government that concentrations have been made to His. .Britsnnic Majesty's government in respect to the unTarranted use of the American flag for the protestion of British ships"
 Note to Great Britain.
 'February 10, 1915
 'HThe secretary of state has in structed Ambassador Page at London to present to the British government q note to the following effect:
 The department has been advis- ed of the declaration. of the German admiralty on February fourth -indi- eating that the British government had on January thirty first explicitly authorized the use of neutral flags on British merchant vessels, presumably for the purpose of avoiding recognition by German naval forces. The de- partment's attention has also been di- rected to reports in the press that the captain of the Lusitania, acting upon orders of information received from the British authorities, raised the Arneri- can fiag as his vessel approached the British coasts, in order to escape an- ticipatsd attacks by German subna . raniee. Today's press reports also contain the use of the flag of a neu- tra1 country by q. belligerent vessel ir order to escape capture or attack by an enemy.
 Assuming that the foregoing re- ports are true, the government of the ultSG States. TsEs1rP1ug for futufe