The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-02-17
j. S. UPHOLDS
GERMAN ED|CT
Note to Powers Denies Right to
Arm Liners.
APPROVES USE or SUBMARINE
Americans May Be Warned Not to
Travel on Belligerent Ships Which
Garry Guns for Defense
Against Divers.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE declara-
| ton by the central powers OF their pur.
pose after March / next to regard
armed merchant ships as warships
and sink them on sight is in exact &C.
cordance with the new policy OF the
United States as laid down by the
American note Of January Is.
1t is expected President Wilson now
will give instructions to all port Of
ficials directing them to conside,
armed merchantmen as auxiliary
cruisers and to apply to them the
rules under which such vessels must
depart within twenty-four hours after
arrival or after necessary repairs are
made or stores taken on board.
The note, by direction of the secre-
tary of state to American ambassa-
doris, was addressed to the European
belligerents in connection with the
| recognition Of submarines as COM
merce destroyers and the desirability
of the disarmament of belligerent mer-
chantmen.
It's text in part is as follows:
1T is a matter of the deepest In
terest to my government to bring TO
an end, il possible, the dangers OF life
which attend the use of submarines as
at present employed in destroying en-
envy commerce on the high seas, since
on any merchant vessel of belligerent
nationality there may be citizens of
the United States who have taken pas
sage or members of the crew in the
exercise of their recognized rights as
neutrals
While | am fully alive to the APP
palling loss of life among noncombat-
ants, regardless Of age or sex, which
has resulted from the present method
Of destroying merchant vessels with
out removing the persons on board to
places of safety and while | view that
practice as contrary to those humane
principles which should control bel
ligerents in the conduct of their naval
operations, | do not feel that bel
ligerent should be deprived of the
proper use of submarines in the in
vasion of commerce, since those In
struments of war have proved their
effectiveness in this practical branch
of warfare on the high seas.
Your government will understand
that in seeking a formula or rule ap-
proach 1t of necessity from the point
of view of a neutral, but ! believe that
it will be equally etficacious In pre-
serving the lives of noncombatants on
merchant vessels of belligerent nation.
alities.
My documents on this subject are
tons:
Il. A noncombatant has a right to
traverse the high seas in merchant
vessel entitled to fly belligerent flag,
to rely upon the observance of the
rules of international law and princi-
pies of humanity, and If the vessel is
approached by a naval vessel Of an
other belligerent the merchant vessel
of enemy nationality should not be at
tackled without being ordered to stop.
"2. An enemy merchant vessel when
ordered to do so by belligerent sub
marine should Immediately stop.
'3. Such vessel should not be at.
tackled after being ordered to stop I'M
| less it attempts to flee or resist. In
case it ceases to fee or resist, the at
| tack should be discontinued
"a In the event that it is possible
to place a prize crew on board of an
enemy merchant vessel, or to convoy
1t into port, the vessel may be sunk.
| provided the crew and passengers
| have been removed to place of
safety.
1T would therefore appear to be
| reasonable and reciprocally just ar
rangement If it could be agreed by the
opposing belligerents that submarines
should be caused to adhere strictly to
the rules of international law in the
matter of stopping and searching mer
chant vessels, determining their bel
ligeront nationality and removing the
crews and passengers to places of
safety before sinking the vessels as
prizes of war, and that merchant veg
sells or beligerent nationality should
be prohibited from carrying any arma.
ment whatsoever.
u should add that my government
Is impressed with the reasonableness
of the argument that a merchant yes.
sci carrying an armament of any sort
should be held to be an auxiliary cruis-
er and so treated by neutral as well
as by bellgerent government and Is
seriously considering instructing its
officials accordingly"