Mexico Missouri message., 1916-01-06
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

icy elected by this country, the gov
ernment has been brought face to face
with many serious problems which
have arisen from the conduct Of the
European war. One of these was the
seizure and detention by Great Britain
of vessels carrying American goods to
neutral ports in Europe. A protest
was made by Washington and on jan
uary 10 Great Britain replied by Of
fering reasonable redress for any mis-
take of that nature.
Early in February, Great Britain de-
cided to seize grain and -four ship
ments to Germany even If intended for
noncombatants, and, two days later,
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland to be war
zone, and announced her purpose to
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned of the danger sure to follow.
On February 6, the Atlantic liner Lusi-
tania made the passage from New
York to Liverpool flying the American
flag as protection against hostile
submarines. On February 10, the
United States sent notes to Germany
and Great Britain concerning Ameri-
can shipping in the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committing
breach of the rules of naval warfare
and Great Britain was reminded that
serious consequences might follow the
use of the American flag by British
vessels. On February 16, Germany Of
fered to withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships If the
British would permit the sending Of
food to the civilian population of Ger
many. On the same day, the British
government seized the American ship
Wilhelmina, bound for a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German note in reply to the
American protest against the subma-
rine blockade disclaimed all RESPONSE
bility. Great Britain affirmed its in
tention to send the Wilhelmina to a
prize court. In replies to inquiries
from the Washington government,
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition to recede from
the positions already announced. On
April IL, the German ambassador pro-
tested to the state department against
the attitude Of the United States to.
ward the shipment of war materials
and British treatment of American
trade with Germany. On May / the
American oil carrier Gul1ight was
sunk off the Scilly islands by Ger.
man submarine.
Destruction Of the LusltanIa.
On May z, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by a German sub
marine off the coast of Ireland, with
a loss of nearly 1900 lives including
upwards of a hundred Americans. On
May 13 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention of main.
| tanning the rights of American citi'
zens. On May 25 the American steam
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo OF the south coast OF
Ireland. On May % the German reply
to the United States note of protest
| in regard to the submarine policy In
the so-called "war zone" was received
Final statement of the German posi-
ton was reserved until common ba
sis of fact as to the status of the Lusi
tania should be established. On May
81 Germany made official announce
ment that the Gulfight had been sunf
by a German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June Secretary of State VIII
liam j. Bryan resigned his ONCE t
avoid signing a second note of pro
test to Germany against submarine in
reference with merchant ships. o.
the following day this note was sem
and assurances were asked that in fu
ture American ships and lives should
be safeguarded. On June 20 the Brit
ish government sent an official not'
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutra
shipping. On June 2S the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed b!
German submarine OF the coast o
southern England and a number o
Americans in the crew lost their lives
On July Germany replied to thu
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against meTchan
ships, promising safety to Unite'
States ships in the war zone II specii
ically marked, and suggesting that tn,
American flag be placed ION four hos
tile steamers for the safe transports
tion Of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 81 the United States sent
third note to Germany, with the state
ment that the German reply to n fol
mer note had been very unsatisfaC
tory" and that a repetition OF tn
acts complained of would be regards
as deliberately unfriendly" On Aul
ust several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning interference with Amel
ican trade in the war zone wer
made public, in which 1t wa
claimed that Great Britain was dS
ing nothing in violation OF internI
tional law In the case Of the WilliaI
l -. /. A.. 4.