New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-01
The United States Must Act.

Il having been established that Leon G.
Thrasher. one of the Falaba victims was
an American citizen, our State Department
now faces the duty Of living up to the prln-
ciples which it laid down in its note OF
February 10 last to the German govern
mont That note discussed the "war zone
proclamation of the German Admiralty
and protested firmly against the threat
contained in it that neutral ships might be
inadvertently torpedoed by the command
ers of German submarines seeking to de-
stroy enemy shipping bound to or from
British and Irish ports.
The United States refused to accept
such violence done to American vessels
trading with ports which Germany had not
blockaded as a legitimate hazard Of war
fare. 1t maintained shat neutral mer-
chantmen clearing for or from Great Brit
ain and Ireland were subject to interior
ence only if they carried contraband OF
war. and in that case could be dealt with
only in accordance with established rules
Of international law. Torpedoing them
first and then inquiring to what extent
they were culpabe was a procedure which
the United States could not sanction and
would never tolerate.
Our government even went further Re
fusing to recognize as legitimate the de-
parture from the rules Of civilized warfare
and from the restrictions of the lnterna-
tional code involved in destroying the lives
of passengers and crews of merchant YES
sells, whether enemy or neutral, the state
Department committed itself to protest
against any action on Germany's part
leading TO the killing or injuring of Ameri-
can citizens attempting TO leave or enter
British or Irish ports on vessels other than
war vessels.
The two passages from the note Of Feb
ruary 10 which show the scope of our con-
tention are as follows:
/. The government Of the United States
views these possibilities with such grave CON
Germ that il feels It 10 be its privilege and,
indeed, its duty, in the circumstances TO re-
quest the imperial German government TO
consider before action is taken the critical
situation IN respect of the relation between
this country and Germany which might arise
we're the German naval forces, in carrying out
the policy foreshadowed in the Admiralty 5
proclamation, to destroy any merchant vessel
Of the United States or cause the death OF
American citizens.
Then, after discussing the destruction
without warning Of ships suspected Of
wrongfully using the American flag:
.. If such deplorable situation should
arise the imperial German government can
readily appreciate that the government Of the
United States would be constrained to hold
the imperial government of Germany to a
strict accountability for such acts OF their
naval authorities and 10 take any steps 1t
might be necessary to take to safeguard
American lives aud property aud to secure
10 American citizens the futt enjoyment OF
their acknowledged rights on the han seas
Mr. Thrasher was entitled under any
theory of neutral rights, and according to
all accepted principles of international law
TO safe conduct off the Falaba. He didn't
get it. and the United States is bound tc
hold Germany to strict accountability fol
his not getting it. 1t is time to begin set
Ting the question whether American citi
zens are to continue Ito enjoy their &C
l,nowledged rights on the high seas