The Mankato free press., 1915-05-21

oNOod. NhG pti EOttth-
ment frankly admit.
I'VE are informed that In the In
stances OF which we have spoken
time enough for even that poor meas.
ure of safety was not given and I'm at
least two of the cases cited not so
mucn rs Na..hng was received.
Manifestly submarines cannot be
used against merchantmen. as the
last few weeks have shown, without
an inevitable violation OF many sacred
principles OF justice and humanity
american citizens act within their
indisprtable rights in taxing their
ships and In travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas and exercise those rights
in what should be the well justified
confidence that their lives will no: be
endangered by acts dcne, in clear yio-
lation OF universally acknowledged
international obligation and certainly
in the confidence that their own gov
ernment will sustain them In the ex-
crCisc of their rights.
Refers to German Warming.
There was recently published In
the newspapers of the United States,
regret to inform the imperial Ger.
man government. formal warning.
purporIing TO come from the imperial
German embassy at Washington. ad.
dressed TO the people OF the United
States. and stating. in effect. that any
citizen of the United States who ex.
ercised his right of free travel upon
the seas would do so at his peril If
his journey should take him within
the zone of water within which the
imperial German navy was using sub.
marines against the commerce OF
Great Britain and France, notwith.
standing the respectful but very earn.
est protest OF his government. the gov
ernment OF the United States.
IL do not refer to this for the pur-
pose of calling the attention of the
imperial German government at this
time to the surprising irregularity OF
Il communication from the imperial
German embassy at Washington. ad.
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
inhumane act would be committed can
possibly be accepted as an excuse or
palliation for the act. or as an abate.
ment OF the responsibility for its COM
mission.
May Be Misunderstanding.
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 they have in the past been ac-
tuated anu guided the government OF
the United States cannot believe that
the commanders OF the vessels which
committed these acts of lawlessness
did so except under a misapprehen-
sion OF the orders issued by the i'm.
perial German naval authorities.
THE government OF the United
States takes II tor 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
lives Of noncombatants or the safety
OF neutral ships, even at the cost of
failing of their object of capture or
destruction.
THE American government conf.
IDENTIFY expects. therefore, that the i'm.
perial German government will dis
avow the acts of which the govern
ment 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 recurrence of anything
so obviously subversive of the prin-
ciples OF warfare for which the i'm
perial German government have in
,he past so wisely and so firmly con.
tended.
Hopes for Just Action.
"The government and people Of the
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 and Ger.
many are bound together not only by
special ties OF friendship. but also by
the explicit stipulations OF the treaty
of 1898 between the United States
and the kingdom OF Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers
OF reparation In case OF the destruc-
tion of neutral ships sunk by mis-
take. while they may satisfy interna-
tional obligations IL no loss of life
results. cannot justify or excuse a
practice. the natural and necessary
effect OF which Is to subject neutral
nations and neutral persons to new
and unreasonable risks.
The imperial German government
will not expect the government Of the
United States to omit any word or
any act necessary to the performance
of its sacred duty of maintaining the
rights of the United States and Its
citizens and OF safeguarding their free
exercise and enjoyment. BRYAN"