The Green Forest tribune., 1915-05-21
There was recently published

There was recently published iE | the newspapers of the United States, 1 regret to inform the imperial Ger man government, a formal warning, purporting to come from the imperial German embassy at Washington. ad- | dressed to the people of the uniteJ States and stating in effect that any citizen of the United States who ex ercised his right of free travel upon the high seas would do so at his peril if his journey should take him within the zone of waters within which the imperial German navy was using submarines against the ccm- merce of Great Britain and France, notwithstanding the respectful, but very earnest, protest of the govern nent of the United States.
 Surprising lrreguIarity" of Embassy.
 ''I do not refer to this for the pur- pose of calling attention of the inn perial German government at this time to the surprising irregularity of communication from the lmperlal German embassy at Washington a.- dressed to the people of the United State through the newspapers, but only for the purpose of pointing out that no warning that an unlawful and inhumane act would be committed can possibly be accepted as ar excuse or palliation of that act or as an abatement of the responsibility for it's commitment.
 Long acquainted as this govern ment has been, with the character of the imperial German government and with the high principles of equity by which in the past they have been ac- tuated and guided, the government of the United States cannot believe the committed these acts of lawlessness did so except under a misapprehen- sion of the orders issued by the i'm perial German naval authorities It takes it for granted that at least within the practical possibilities of every such case, the commanders even of submarines were expected to do nothing that would involve the lies of noncombatants or the safety of neutral ships even at the cost of destruction. It confidently expects, therefore, that the imperial German government will disavow the acts of which the government of the United States complains; that they will make reparation so far as reparation is possible for injuries which are without measure and that they will take immediate steps to prevent the I ecurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles Of war fare for which the imperial German government in the past have so wisely and so firmly contended.
 Expects Prompt Action.
 "The government and people of tho United States look to the imperial German government for just, prompt and enlightened action in this vital matter with the greater confidence because the United States an.i Ger. many are bound together not only by special ties of friendship but also by the explicit stipulations of the treaty of 1928 between the United States and the kingdom of Prussia
 Expressions of regret and offers ot reparation in case of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake while they may satisfy international obligations 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 persons to new and ill- risks.
 'The imperial German government will not expect the government cf the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of it's sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and it's free exercise and enjoyment.
 GG