The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-24
NO GENERAL MISUSE Of FLAGS
GREAT BRITAIN REPLIES TO
AMERICAN NOTE.
Will Not Forbid Use of Flags and
Points Out That United States Has
Itself Adopted Practice in War
Times.

London, Feb. 19.-The British for
eiSn office tonight issued a note in
reply to the representations of the
United States government concerning
the use Of American flags by British
vessels. The note says the Cunard line
steamer Lusitania on her recent voy-
age from New York to Liverpool
raised the American flag ito save the
lives of nOncombatants crew and
passengers" 1t adds that in spite Of
the fact that American passengers
embarking on the Lusitania on her
outward voyage for New York asked
that the American flag be hoisted
the British government did not give
any advices to the company as to how
to meet this request, and, it is under
stood the Lusitania left Liverpool
under the British flag"
After discussing the Lusitania Incl
dent the memorandum says:
The British government has 10 in
tention of advising merchant shipping
to use foreign flags as a general prac-
uce or to resort to them otherwise
than for escaping capture or destruc-
tion."
In conclusion the statement says:
THE obligation on a belligerent
n oi 1nC it1l..
self the nationality and character of
merchant vessel before capturing
it and fortiori (stronger reason) be-
fore sinking and destroying it has been
universally recognized. If that obli-
cation Is fulfilled the hoisting of a
neutral flag on board British vessel
can not possibly endanger neutral
shipping. and the British government
holds that If loss to neutrals is caused
by disregarding this obligation it is
upon the enemy vessel disregarding
and upon the government giving or
ders that it should be disregarded
that the full responsibility for injury
to neutrals ought to rest"
The following is the text of the
reply Of Great Britain to the Ameri-
can note as handed to Walter Hines
Page, the American ambassador, to-
day:
The memorandum communicated
on the 18th of February calls atten-
tion 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 Ameri-
ca when approaching British waters
and says that the government of the
United States feels certain anxiety
In considering the possibility Of any
general 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 a
menace to the lives and vessels of
United States citizens.
ut was understood that the German
government announced their intan-
ton of sinking British merchant vcs-
sells at sight by torpedoes without E.v-
ing any opportunity of making any
provision for the saving Of lives of
noncombatant crews and passengers.
1t was in consequence Of this threat
that the Lusitania raised the United
States flag on her inward voyage
"On her subsequent outward voyage
request was made by United States
passengers who were embarkinr on
board her that the United States
liag should be hoisted presumably to
insure their safety. Meanwhile the
memorandum from your excellcncy
had been received. His majesty's gov
ernment did not give any advice to
the company as to how to meet this
request, and it is understood that tho
Lusitania left Liverpool under the
British flag.
1T seems unnecessary to say more
as regards the Lusitania in particular.
In regard to the use Of foreign
flags by merchant vessels tie British
merchant shipping act makes it clear
That the use OF the British flag by
foreign merchant vessels is permitted
in time of war for the purpose of es-
Gaping capture. 1t is believed that in
the case of some other nations there
is similar recognition of the same
practice with regard to their flag. and
that none has forbidden it.
1T would therefore be unreason-
able to expect his majesty's govern
mcnt to pass legislation forbidding The
use OF foreign flags by British mer-
chant vessels to avoid capture by the
enemy now that the German govern