West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-05-20

visit a merchantmen at sea and exam.
inc her papers and cargo. II is prac.
ucally impossible for them TO make a
prize OF her. and IL they cannot put a
prize crew on board of her they cannot
sink her without leaving her crew and
all on board of her TO the mercy OF the
sea I'm small boats. These facts. Il Is
understood, the Imperial government
frankly admits
We are informed that In the In
stance 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
as warning was received Manifest
~ submarines cannot be used against
merchantmen, as the last few weeks
have shown, without inevitable viola
lion OF many sacred principles OF ;is
tice and humanity.
American citizens act within the,r
indisputable rights In taking their
ships and i'm travelling wherever their
legitimate busines calls them upon tho
nigh seas, and exercise those rights
In what should be the well Justified
confidence that their lives will not be
endangered by acts done i'm clear vio-
lation of universally accepted inter
national obligation. and certainly in
the confidence that their own govern
ment will sustain them In the exercise
of their right.
Ihere was recently published I'm
the newspapers OF the United States. I
regret to inform the Imperial Ger
man government. formal warning.
purporting to come from the Imperial
German embassy at Washington. adj
dressed TO the peoplei the United
States. and stating, in effect, that any
citizen of the United States who exer-
cised his right to travel upon the seas
would do so at his peril IL his Journey
should take him within the zone of
waters I'm which the Imperial German
navy was using submarines against
the commerce OF Great Britain and
France. Notwithstanding the respect
iuI' but very earnest, protest of this
government, the government of the
United States.
1 don't refer TO this for the pur-
pose of calling the attention of the
Imperial German government at this
time to the surprising irregularity of
communication from the Imperial
German embassy at Washington adj
dressed to the people OF the United
States through the newspapers. but
only for the purpose of pointing out
that no warning that an unlawful and
inhuman act will be committed can
possibly be accepted as an excuse or
retaliation for that act or as an abate-
ment OF the responsibility for its com
mission.
Long acquainted as this govern
ment has been with the character NJ
the Imperial 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
the commanders OF the vessels which
committed these acts OF lawIessness.
did so except under a misappreben-
sion OF the orders issued by the I'm
perial German. naval authorities. II
takes 1t for granted that at least with
In the practical possibility OF every
such case the COMMANDERS even of sub
marines, were expected TO do nothing
that would involve the lives of non
combatants or the safety OF neutral
ships' even at the cost Of failing at
their object OF capture or destruc-
ton
1T confidently expects, therefore.
that the Imperial German government
VIII disavow the acts of which the
government OF the United States COM
plains; that they will make repara-
tions' so far as reparation is possible.
Tor Injuries which are without meas
ure; and that they will take Immediate
steps to prevent the recurrence OF
anything so obviously subversive Of
the principles of warfare for which
the Imperial German government have
in the past so wisely and so firmly
contended. The government and peo-
pie OF the United States look TO the
Imperial German government for iust
prompt and enlightened action I'm this
vital matter. with the greater conf
dence because the United States and
Germany are bound together. not only
by special ties OF friendship. but by
also the explicit stipulations Of the
treaty Of 1928. between the United
states and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions Of regret and offers Of
reparatsion I'm case Of the destruction
OF neutral ships sunk by mistake.
while they may satisfy international
obligation IL no loss OF life. cannot
justify or excuse practice, the nat
ural and unnecessary effect OF which
is to subject neutral persons TO new
and immeasurable risks.
The Imperial German government
VIII not expect the government OF the
United States to omit any word or any
action necessary 70 the performance
OF It's sacred duty OF maintaining the
rights OF the United States and IFS citi-
zens. and OF safeguarding their free
exercise and enjoyment.
'9lshed) BRYAN"
-s-
II you will tell us why some ladies'