The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1916-04-21

before the JOINT session OF COngrt
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS-:
a situation has arisen in the foreign
relations of the country, of which it is
my plain duty to inform you very
frankly.
1915. the imperial German government
announced its intention to treat the
waters surrounding Great Britain ana
Ireland as embraced within the seat
of war, and to destroy all merchant
ships owned by its enemies that might
be found within any part of that por-
warned ali vessels of neutral, as well
as of beiligerent ownership. to keep
out of the waters it had thus pro-
scribed or else enter them at their
peril.
Says Gros. Abuses Are Certain.
The government of the United States
earnestly protested. 1t took the posi-
ton that such policy could not be
pursued without the practical certain
ty of gross and palpable violation of
the law of nations, particularly IL sub
marine craft We're to be employed as
Its instruments. inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law, rules founded
upon principles of humanity and es-
tablished 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
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, 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 DisreRards All PrOtests.
Notwithstanding the earnest protest
of our government, the imperial Ger
man government at once proceeded to
carry out the policy 1t had announced.
1t expressed the hope that the dangers
involved. at any rate the dangers to
neutral vessels, would be reduced to
minimum by the Instructions which 1t
had issued to its submarine command
ers and assured the government of the
United States that it would take ev-
cry possible precaution both to respect
the rights of neutrals. and to safe
guard the lives of non-combatants.
What has actually happened in the
year which has since elapsed. has
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 upon
the high seas surrounding Great Brit
ain and Ireland but wherever they
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
conjunction against vessels of every
nationality and bound upon every sort
of Grand
Neutral-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
belligerent ownership in constantlyin-
creaSing numbers.
Sometimes the merchantmen attacked
has been warned and summoned to
surrender before being fired on or tor
pedoed; sometimes passengers or crews
have been vouchsafed the poor secur-
ity of being allowed to take to the
ships boats before she was sent to
the bottom.
But again and again no warning had
been given; no escape even to the
ships boats allowed to those on board.
What this government foresaw must
followed tragedy on the seas in such
fashion. with such attendant circum
stances. as to make 1t grossly evident
that warfare of such a sort, II war
fare 1t be. cannot be carried on with
out the most palpable violation of the
dictates alike of right and humanity.
Whatever the disposition and inten-
tion Of the imperial German govern
ment, 1t has manifestly proved impos-
sible for 1t to keep such methods of
attack upon the commerce of Its enc
WIT vUf h ha 10 lot hv
the reason or the heart of mankind.
In February of the present year. the
imperial German government Informed
this government and the other. neu-
trail governments of the world that it
had reason to believe that the gov
eminent OF Great Britain had armed
ship. and had given them secret or
ders to attack any submarine of the
enemy they might encounter upon the
government felt Justified in the cir
cumstances in treating all merchant
men of belligerent ownership as auX,
have the right to destroy without
warning.
Germany Sets Aside Law of Nations.
The law of nations has long recog
mixed the right OF merchantmen to
them to repel attacks, to use them in
such circumstances at their own risk;
but the imperial German government
Grained the Iisht 10 eet these uHueI
standings aside under circumstances
which 1t deemed extraordinary.
Even the terms in which 1t an
nounced its purpose thus still further
to relax the restraints II had previ
oLsly professed IT'S willingness and de
sire to put upon the operations of its
submarines carried the plain implica-
ton that at least vessels which were
not armed would be exempt from de
struction without warning and that
personal safety would be accorded
hoir M
that limitation, il 1t was ever practi-
cable to observe 1t, has in fact consti-
tuted no check at all upon the de-
struction of ships of every sort.
Again and again the imperial Ger |
man government has given this gov
Oles viii Case Again at Issue.