Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-11
Submarine Policy
 Outlined to Allies
REGARDING BELLIGERENT BOATS
 IN NEUTRAL PORTS
WILL ACT MPARTIALLY
Reserves Liberty of Action In Treat ment of Either War or Merchant Submarines In American Waters Neutrals Must Not be Molested.

Washington, Oct. 10.-The text of theAmerican memorandum replying to that or the allied governments regard Ing treatment of belligerent subma- rines in neutral ports is as follows: The government of the United Sites has received the identic memoranda of the governments of France, Great Britain, Russia and Japan, in which neutral governments are exhorted "to take eff1cacious measures tending to prevent belligerent submarines. re- gardless of their use, to avail them selves of neutral waters, roadsteads and harbors."
 What Allies Contend.
 These governments point out the facility possessed by such craft to avoid supervision or surveillance or determination of their national char acter and their power "to do injury tkat Is inherent in their very nature, 5 as well as the additional facilities'' attorded by having at their disposal places where they can rest and re- plenish their supplies
 Apparently on these grounds, the al- ned governments hold that 'submarine vessels must be excluded from the benefit of the rules heretofore accept ed under international law regardin the admission and sojourn of war and merchant vessels in neutral waters roadsteads or harbors; any submarine Of bellieerent that once enters a neutral harbor must be held there" and, therefore. the allied governments
 warn neutral powers of the great danger to neutral submarines attend ing the navigation of waters visited by the submarines of belligerents."
 Danger to Neutral Submarines.
 In reply the government of the Unit ed states must express it's surprise that there appears to be an endeavor or the allied powers to determine the rule Of action governing what they regard as "a novel situation" in re- spect to the use of submarines in time oT W war and to enforce acceptance of that rule, at least in part, by warn ing neutral powers of the great danger to their submarines in waters that may be visited by belligerent subma- rines.
 In. the opinion the government of the tnlted States the allied powers have net set forth any circumstances. nor is the government of the United states at present aware of any cir cufnStanceS. concerning the use of war or merchant submarines which would render the existing rules of interna- ttona1 law inapplicable to them.
 Reserves Liberty of Action.
 In view of this fact ond of the mo- tica and warning of the allied DOW CTS announced in their memoranda un- der acknowledgment it is incumbent uron the government of the United States to notify the governments of France, Great Britain, Russia and Japan, that, so far as the treatment of either war or merchant submarines in American waters is concerned the government of the United States re- serves it's liberty of action in all re- spects and will treat such vessels as, i'll it's opinion, becomes the action of a power which may be said to have taken the first steps toward es- tablishing the principles of neutrality and which for over a century has maintained those principles in the tra- ditional spirit and with the high sense of impartiality in which they were conceived.
 Must Distinguish Between Enemy and
 Neutral.
 1n order, however, that there should be no misunderstanding as to the at titude of the United States, the gov ernment of the United States an- nounces to the allied powers that it holds it to be the duty of belligerent powers to distinguish between subma :! rincs of neutral and belIigerent nation- ahty, and that responsibility for any conflict that may arise between beIlig- erent warships and neutral submarines on account of the neglect of bellig- erent to so distinguish between these classes of submarines, must rest en- tirely upon the negligent power.