The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-03
ENGLAND Answers
AMERICAN NOTE ON Use OF Flag
IN RIEN]L Y TONE
TALKS ABOUT LUST AMA
Says Belhgerent Must Establish
Identity of Ships Under Neutral
Flags Before Taking Actior-Re-
fers to Use of British Flag By
American Ships In Civil War.

ameElCan SnlpS Ii S1SA "o&'
The British foreign Office Friday
night issued note in reply to the
representations Of the United States
government concerning the use Of the
American flag by British vessels.
The following is the text Of the re-
ply of Great Britain to the American
note as handed to Walter Hines Page,
the American AMBASSADOR:
''The memorandum communicated
on the 11th of February calls atten-
ton in courteous and friendly terms
to the action of the captain Of the
British steamship Lusitania in raising
the flag Of the United States Of Amer
ica when approaching British waters,
and says that the government Of tbs
United States feel certain anxiety in
considering the possibility Of any gen.
eral use Of the flag OF the United
States by British vessels. traVersing
those waters, since the effect Of such
a policy might, be to bring about
menace to the lives and vessels OF
United States citizens.
"It was understood that the Ger
man government announced their In
tention Of sinking British merchant
vessels at sight by torpedoes without
giving any opportunity Of making any
provision for the saving Of lives OF
| non-com batant crews and passengers.
It was in consequence Of this threat
that the Lusitania raised the United
States flag on her inward voyage.
"On her subsequent outward voy.
age a request was made by United
States passengers who were embark
ing on her that the United States flag
should be hoisted, presumably to In
sure their safety. Meanwhile the
memorandum from your Excellency
had been received. His Majesty's
government. did not give any advice
to the company as to how to meet
this request, and it is understood that
the Lusitania left Liverpool under the
British flag.
"It seems unnecessary to say more
as regards the Lusitania In particu-
liar.
"In regard to the use Of foreign
flags by merchant vessels, the British
Merchant Shipping act makes it clear
that the use of the British flag by
merchant vessels is permitted II time
Of war for the purpose Of escaping
capture. It is believed that in the
case Of some other nations there Is
similar recognition Of the same prac-
tice with regard to their flag, and
that none has forbidden it.
"It would, therefore, be unreason-
able to expect his Majesty's govern
ment to pass legislation forbidding
the use of foreign flags by British
merchant vessels to avoid capture By
the enemy, now that the German gov
eminent have announced their inten-
ton to sink merchant vessels at sight
with their non-combatant crews, car
;. goes and papers, a proceeding h.ther-
Ito regarded by the opinion Of the
world not as war, but piracy.
"It is felt that the United States
government could not fairly ask the
British government to order British
merchant vessels to forego a means
always hitherto permitted Of escap-
ing not only capture, but the much
worse fate Of sinking and destruction
4, "Great Britain always when neu-
trail, has accorded to vessels Of other
states at war the liberty to use the
British flag as means Of protection
from capture, and instances are or
record when United States vessels
availed themselves Of this facility
during the American civil war.
4 'rIt would be contrary to fair ex'
pectaticn II now, when conditions arr
reversed, the United States and neu'
tral nations were to grudge to Brit.
sh ships the liberty to take similal
action.
1.-The British government has ns
intention of advising their merchar'
, shipping to use foreign flags as gen
eral practice or to resort to their
otherwise than for escaping capture
| or destruction. The obligation upor
a belligerent warship to ascertain
definitely for itself the nationalit!
: and character of merchant vesse
: 5efore capturing G it and fortiori befor'
sinking and destroying it has beer
universally recognized.
IF that obligation Is fulfilled tn,
hoisting Of a neutral flag on board :
British vessel can not possibly en-
danger neutral shipping, and th'
British government holds that if los
to neutrals is caused by disregard o
\ this Obligation it is upon the enem!
vessel disregarding it and upon te'
government giving the orders that !
should be disregarded that the re
sponsibility for injury to neutral
ought to rest"