The state herald., 1916-04-28

o"S Johe ocsoiou VI SOuST'
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS-:
situation has arisen In the foreign
relations of the country, OF which 1t is
my plain duty to inform you very
1t will be recalled that in February.
1915. the imperial German government
announced its intention to treat the
waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland as embraced within the seat
ships owned by its enemies that might
be found within any part of that por-
tion OF the high seas, and that 1t
warned all vessels of neutral, as well
as OF belligerent ownership, to keep
out Of the waters it had thus pro-
peril.
Says Gross Abuses Are Certain.
The government of the United States
earnestly protested. 1t took the posi-
ton that such a policy could not be
pursued without the practical certain
X or gross and palpable violation Of
the law OF nations. particularly II sub
marine craft were to be employed as
Its instruments. inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law, rules founded
upon principles of humanity and es-
toblished for the protection of the lives
OF non -combatants at sea, could not In
the nature of the case be observed by
such vessels.
1t based its protest on the ground
that persons of neutral nationality and
vessels Of neutral ownership would be
exposed to extreme and intolerable
risks. and that no right to close any
part OF the high seas against their use
or to expose them to such risks, could
lawfully be asserted by any belliger-
ent government.
The law of nations in these matters.
upon which the government of the
United States based its protest, is not
of recent origin. or founded upon
merely arbitrary principles set up by
convention. 1t is based, on the con-
trary, upon manifest and Imperative
principles of humanity and has long
been established with the approval and
by the express assent OF all civilized
nations.
Germany Disregards All Protests.
. Notwithstanding the earnest protest
OF our government, the imperial Ger
man government at once proceeded to
carry out the policy II had announced
II expressed the hope that the dangers
involved, at any rate the dangers to
neutral vessels. would be reduced to q
minimum by the instructions which II
had issued to its submarine command
ers and assured the government of the
United States that II would take ev-
cry possible precaution both to respect
the rights OF neutrals, and to safe
guard the lives of n-combatants.
What has actually happened in the
shown that those hopes were not tusti-
fled. those assurances insusceptible OF
being fulfilled.
In pursuance of the policy of sub
marine warfare against the commerce.
OF Its adversaries, thus announced and
entered upon by the imperial German
government In spite of the solemn pro-
test of this government, the command
ers of German undersea vessels have
attacked merchant ships with greater
and greater activity. not only upor
the high seas surrounding Great Brit
ain and Ireland but wherever they
could encounter them, In n way that
has grown more and more ruthless
more and more indiscriminate as the
months have gone by. less and less OBJ.
servant OF restraints Of any kind; and
have delivered their attacks without
eompunotion against vessels Of every
nationality and bound upon every sort
of errand.
Neutrai-Owned Vessels Destroyed.
Vessels OF neutral ownership, even
vessels of neutral ownership bound
from neutral port to neutral port. have
been destroyed. along with vessels OF
boiiigerent ownership in constantly-in-
crensing numbers.
Sometimes the merchantmen attacked
has been warned and summoned ia
surrender before being fired on or tor
have been youchsafed the poor reeur.
it> OF being allowed TO take TO the
ghip's boats before she was sent to
the bottom.
But again and again no warning had
been given. no escape even 20 the
ships boats allowed to those on board
What this government foroHnw must
happen has happened, Tragedy has
followed tragedy on the seas In such
fashion. with such attendant circum-
stances. ms to make II grossly evident
that warfare OF such n sort, n war
faro II be. cannot be carried ON with
out tho most palpabie violation Of the
dictates alike OF right and humanity.
whatever tho disposition and inten-
tion Of tho imperial German govern
m.nt. Il has mnnifestly proved impos.
sibis for II TO keep such methods OF
attack upon the commerce OF Its enc
mics within tho bounds set by either
the reason or tho heart OF mankind.
In February of the present year. the
imperial German government Informed
this government and the other nau-
had reason TO believe that tho gov
-rnment OF Great Britain had armed
all merchant vessels OF British owner
ship. and had given them secret or
dsrr to attack any submarine OF tho
snsmy they might encounter upon the
seas and that tho imperial German
government felt Justified IN the cir
cumstnnces In treating all MERCHANT
men of beiiiserent ownership 40 aux.
Hilary vessels OF war. which II would
have tho right 20 destroy without
warning.
a.smsny sets Aside Law Of Nstions.
The law OF nations has long reeoH-
uised the right OF merchantmen TO
carry arms for proiee,ion and TO use
then, TO repei attacks, 10 use them In
such circumstances at their own risk
but th. imperial German Eoyernmen,
claimed the right TO SGT these under
.,ansinps aside under circumstances
which Il deemed estfaordinary..
Even the terms In which u an
n,nneed I. purpose thus rtiii further
20 rslas the rsSirnin,s !, had p,syI
o,uiy profensed Ms willingness and de
.i,s 10 nut upon tho operations OF Its
submarines carried the plain l,npllea.
,inn that at least vessels which were
40, armed would be exempt from de.
s,ruc,ion wlthou, warning and ,ha,
,h,ir parsensers and crews. but even
,ha, iimitation, u !, was eyer prasu-
,n,.d no check at all upon the de-
.truetjon Of ships Of every sort
Again and again the Imperial Got
man ro,srnmsnt has given ihls H"N'