The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-05-28

tunate impressions which have been
created and vindicate once more the
position of that government with re-
gard to the sacred freedom of the
seas.
Strict Accountability Held.
1.-THE government of the United
States has been appraised that the
Imperial German government consid-
cred themselves to be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances of the
present war and the measures adopted
by their adversaries in seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods st retaliation which go
much beyond the ordinary methods of
warfare at sea, in the proclamation of
war zone from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
This government has already taken &C.
casion to inform the Imperial German
government that it cannot admit the
adoption of such measures or such
warning of danger to operate as in any
degree an abbreviation of the rights
| of American ship-masters or of Ameri-
can citizens bound on lawful errands
| as passengers on merchant ships of
| belligerent nationality; and that 1t
must hold the imperial government to
a strict accountability for any infringe
ment of these rights, intentional or
| incidental. 1t does not understand the
| Imperial German government to ques-
ton those rights. 1t assumes, on the
contrary, that the imperial govern
ment accepts, as of course, the rule
that the lives of non-combatants
whether they be of neutral citizenship
or citizens of one of the nations at
war, cannot lawfully or rightfully be
put in jeopardy by the capture or
destruction of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognize also, as all other
nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precaution of visit and search to
ascertain whether a suspected mer-
chairman is in fact of belligerent ma
tionality or is in fact carrying con-
traband of war under a neutral flag.
Submarines lmpracticabIe.
"The government of the United |
States, therefore, desires to call the |
attention of the Imperial German gov
eminent with the utmost earnestness
to the fact that the objection to their
present method of attack against the
trade of their enemies lies in the prac-
tical impossibility of employing sub
marines in the destruction of COM
merce without disregarding those
rules of fairness, reason, justice and
humanity, which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t is practically
for the officers of SUBJ
marine to visit a merchantmen at sea
and examine her papers and cargo.
Sustains American Rights.
American citizens act within their
indisputable rights in taking 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 justi-
fed confidence that their lives will
not be endangered by acts done in
clear violation of universally acknowl-
edged international obligation. and
in the confidence that their
own government will sustain them in
he exercise of their rights.
"The government and people of the
United States look to the Imperial
German government for just, prompt
md enlightened action in this vital /
natter with the greater confidence ;
because the United States and Ger
many are bound together not only by !
pecial ties OF friendship, but also by /
he explicit stipulations of the trea- {
y of 1928 between the United States
nd the Kingdom Of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers of
eparation in case of the destruction :
f neutral ships sunk by mistake, /
yhile they may satisfy international a
If no loss of life results, g
annot justify or excuse practice, the $
atural and necessary effect of which 1
to subject neutral nations and v
eutral persons to new and immeas-
rable risks. a
"The Imperial German government 4
i'll not expect the government of the :
nited States to omit any word or any :
It necessary to the performance of =
8 sacred duty Of maintaining the 4
gifts Of the United States and its =
tizens and of safeguarding their free +
zercise and enjoyment.-Bryan." ..
Indians Attack American Colony. dl
Nogales, Sonora, May 15.-With 500
exican soldiers and band OF armed =
mericans reported as trying to res !
le them, colony Of IS American, in :