The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-20

perial government has given its solemn as
ssurances to the government of the United
not be thus dealt with, and yet it has re-
peatedly permitted its undersea eomman-
entire impunity. AS recently February,
last it gave notice that it would regard all
as part of the naval rorces of it's ad-
versaries and deal with them as with men
OF war thus, at least, by Implication,
pledging itself to give warning to vessels
which were not armed and to accord Sc
crews; but even this limitation their sub
marine commanders have recklessiy ig-
nored.
Neglect to Give Warnings.
Vessels of neutral ownership, even YES
sells of neutral ownership bound from neu-
trail port to neutral port, have been de-
ownership In constantly increasing num-
bers- Sometimes the merchantmen at
tackled have been warned and summoned
to surrender before being fired on or tor
pedoed; sometimes their passengers and
crews have been vouchsafed the poor
curlty or being allowed to take to the ships
boats before the ship was sent to the bot
tom. But again and again no warning has
been given no escape even to the ships
liners like the Lusitania and Arabic and
mere passenger boats like the Sussex, have
often before they have even become aware
that they were in the presence of an armed
ship OF the enemy and the lives of non
comDatants, passengers and crew, have
been destroyed wholesale and in a manner
which the government of the United States
cannot but regard as wanton and without
the slightest color of justification. No
limit of any kind has in fact been set to
their indiscriminate pursuit and destruc-
ton OF merchantmen of all kinds and ma
tionalities within the waters which the i'm
perial government has chosen to designate
as lying within the seat of war. The toll
of Americans who have lost their lives
upon ships thus attacked and destroyed
ominous toll has mounted into the hun
dreds.
U. S. Has Been Patient.
The government of the United States
mas been very patient. At every stage of
this distressing experience of tragedy after
the most thoughtful consideration Of the
extraordinary circumstances of an unpre-
cedented war and to be guided by senh-
menus OF very genuine friendship for the
people and government of Germany 1t
has accepted the successive explanations
ana a. oS assurances OF the imperial government
as OF course given in entire sincerity and
good faith, and has hoped even against
nope, that 1t would prove to be possible
for the imperial government so to order
and control the acts of its naval com
manders as to square its policy with the
bodied in the law of nations 1t has made
every allowance for UNPRECEDENTED condi-
tons and has been willing to wait until
the facts became unmista kable and were
susceptible of only one interpretation 1t
now owes 1t to just regard for its own
rights to say to the imperial government
that that time has come. 1t has become
painfully evident to it that the position
WnIcn II TOOK at the very outset is newt
able, namely that the use of submarines
for the destruction of an enemy's COM
merce. is, of necessity, because of the very
character of the vessel employed and the
very methods of attack which their en-
ployment of course involves utterly in
compatible with the principles of humanity
the long established and incontrovertible
rights of neutrals and the sacred immuni-
ties of non -combatants.
Only Course for T. s.
IF 1t still is the purpose of the imperial
government to prosecute relentless and
indiscriminate warfare against vessels of
commerce by use of submarines without
| regard to what the government of the
United States must consider the sacred
and indisputable rules of international law
and the universally recognized dictates of
humanity, the government of the United
! States is at last forced to the conclu sion
| that there is but one course it can pursue.
| Unless the imperial government should
now Immediately declare in effect an aban-
donment of its present methods of sub
| marine warfare against passenger and
| freight carrying vessels, the government
| of the United States can have no choice
! but to sever diplomatic relations with the
! German empire altogether. This action the
government of the United States contem-
plates with the greatest reluctance but
| feels constrained to take in behalf of hui
manity and the rights of neutral nations"