The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-12

of war, because, in view of the mi,u e of neutral flags said to have been or dered by the British government on
 the 3lst Of January and of the C01tin- gencies of maritime warfare, it may not be possible always tO exempt reu. tral vessels from attacks intended 10 strike enemy ships, feels it to be its duty to call the attention of the i'm. peria German government with sin cere respect and the most friendly sentiments, but very cordially and earnestly to the very serious possi. bilities of the course of action appar- ently contemplated under that procla- nation
 The government of the United States views those possibilities with such grave concern that it feels 1t to be its privilege and indeed its duty iii the circumstances 10 request the inn. perial German government to com sider before action is taken the crti- cal situation in respect of the relation between this country and Germany which might arise were tae German naval forces in carrying out the policy foreahadcWed in the admir- a tvs proclamation to destroy any merchant vessel of the United States or cause the death of American citi- zens.
 Tt is of course, not necessary 10 remind the German government that the sole right of a belligerent in dea'- ing with neutral vessels on the high seas is limited to visit and search uu- less a blockade is proclaimed and ef- fectively maintained which this gov ernment does not understand to be proposed in this case. To declare or exercise a right 10 attack and destroy any vessel entering a prescribed area of the high seas without first certain y determining its bel igereut nati3n- ality and the coutrabaud character of its cargo, would be an act SO uupre- cCdented in naval warfare that this government is reluctant to believe
 that the imperial government of Ger
 many in this case contemplates it as possible. The suspicion that enemy
 ships are using neutral flags imprcp- crly can create no just presumption that all ships traversing a prescribed area are subject to the same suspt
 cion. It is ito determine exactly such questions that this government under stands the right to visit and search to have been recognized.
 This government has carefu ly noted the explanatory statement is- sued by the imperial German govern ment at the same time with the proc.
 lamation of the German admiralty aud
 takes this occasion to remind me im- perial German government, very re spectfully that the government Of the United States is open to none of the criticisms for unneutral action t0 which the German government be- lieves the governments of certain
 other neutral nations have laid them selves open; that the government of the United States has not consented to or acquiesced in any measures which may have been taken by the other belligerent nations in the pres ent war which operate to restrain neu- tral trade, but has on the contrary taken in all such matters a position ! which warrants it in holding those governments responsible in the proper way for any untoward effects on
 American shipping which the accepted principles of international law do not justify; and that it, therefore. regards itself as free in the present instance | to take with a clear conscience and upon accepted principles the position | indicated in this note
 of the commanders of German
 vessels of war should act upon the presumption that the flag of the United States was not being used in
 good faith and should destroy on the high seas an American vessel or the lives of American citizens, it would be | diffieut for the government of the United States to view the act in any ] other light than as an indefensibie