Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-03-07

In his speech in the Senate on
March 4, fayoring warning Amer
leans to stay off armed merchantmen
Senator McCumber, Of North Dacota,
who has again introduced a resolu-
ton of warning in the upper house
Of Congress, said:
What would we do under the
same circumstances? We now pro-
pose to build a large number of sub
marines. These new war vessels are
to be constructed that they can be
used both as coast defenses mad as
commerce raiders Suppose we were
at war with some great, powerful
nation. Suppose there were some
basis in what | regard as mere hys-
terra, the cry of danger of invasion.
We find q belligerent vessel, with
defensive gun, carrying munitions to
our foes. We are maneuVering for
position to give it notice. In its at
tempt to escape it Is endeavoring to
get us within range of its defensive
gun. What would the captain of
that submarine do? If he should
take that chance and the defensive
gun should send his submarine and
its crew down to death, what would
THAT is all right?" No, Mr.. Presi-
dent the order would be given by
our admiralty to all submarine COM
manders, Your first duty is to pro-
tect yourselves" What we would
command in our war we ought at
least to consider a questionable priv
Hedge in the war now pending.
The question, at least, Mr.. Presi-
SO. ne o. of ~
delicacy that 1t seems to me that it
is the moral duty Of every patriotic
American to relieve his country from
embarrassment by refraining to
travel on such armed vessels. He
has no right, by his recklessness or
audacity, to endanger the good re-
lations OF this country with any ma
tion now at war.
IT these propositions be true-and
I can not sec how they can be de-
nied--if it is the duty of the true
American, irrespective of legal right,
to refrain from travel on such armed
vessels, then 1t logically follows that
Congress or the President may with
entire propriety call his attention to
that duty, and even enforce such
duty by prohibiting armed vessels
Senator McCumber's resolution
reads
Resolved by the Senate (the House
of Representatives concurring) That
it is the sense Of the Congress Of the
United States that, under the rules
Of international law heretofore OBJ
tanning such merchant vessels,
though armed with a stern gun Of
comparatively small caliber, and for
defense only has the status and
rights in war Of an unarmed mer-
chant ship, but that the science OF
war has developed with such extra
ordinary rapidity during tho present
conflict. and new weapons Of war
fare, including the submarine and
aero fighting craft have been en-
ployed with such far-reaching con-
sequences and which may threaten
the very life OF any one Of the ma
tions involved. and which may neces-
state q revision Of tho codes OF in
ternaticnal law pertaining to the
rights and duties Of noutrals and
belligerents in the light OF such new
instrumentalitics that, while tho
strict legal right OF an American
citizen under international law to
lidftl NHu snip HIS BOOuS pH dL
armed merchant vessel may be an
established right. it Is none the less
the moral and patriotic duty OF every
American citizen, in view Of the des-
perate character OF the warfare now
raging in Europe and the desperate
situation Of each and all OF the
warning powers, TO refrain from
needlessly exposing himself to dam
ger and by his recklessness or au-
dacity, involving his country, OF
threatening to involve it, in conflict
that may seriously affect the welfare
Of a hundred million Of his fellow
citizens; and that therefore the citi-
zens Of the United States should be-
and they arc hereby, requested to
refrain from travel on such armed
merchant ships until an agreement
has been reached between this coun-
try and other warning nations to tho
end that the endeavors of the Presi-
dent may not be jeopardized or
halted or this Government forced i'm
to hostility with another country be-
cause of the unnecessary or reckless
attitude Of any citizen Of tho United
States.