Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-04-20

| ger ships would not be thus dealt WITH
and yet II has repeatedly permitted its
undersea commanders TO disregard those
assurances with entire impunty. As re-
Gently as February last II gave notice
that It would regard all armed merchant
men owned by Its enemies as part OF
the naval forces OF its adyersaries and
deal with them as with men-of-war thus.
at least by implication. pedging itself 70
give warning 10 vessels which were not
armed and TO accord security OF life TO
their passengers and crews; but even this
| limitation the submarine commanders
have recklessly ignored.
neutral Vessels Destroyed.
Vessels OF neutral ownership, even
vessels Of neutral ownership bound from
neutral port 10 neutral port have
been destroyed along with vessels
Of belllgerent ownership in constantly
increasing numbers Sometimes the mer-
chantmen have been warned and sum
moned to surrender before being fired
on or torpedoed. sometimes the passen-
gers and crews have been vouchsafed
tho poor security OF being allowed TO
take TO the ships boats before the ship
was sent 10 the bottom. But again and
again no warning has been given, no es-
cape even 70 the ships boats allowed
10 those on board Great liners like the
Lusitania and Arabic and mere psssen-
ger boats like the Sussex have been at
tackled without moments warning.
often before they have even become
nware that they were In the presence
Of an armed ship OF the enemy, and the
lives Of noncombatants, 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 indiscrlm.
mate pursuit and destruction OF mer-
chantmen OF all kinds and nationality
within the waters which the imperial
government has chosen to designate an
lying within the seat OF war The roll
Of all Americans who have lost their |
lives upon ships thus attacked and de- |
stroyed has grown month by month UNI !
III the ominous toll has mounted into the
hundreds.
United states Most Patient.
The government OF the United States
has been very patient, AZ every stage OF
this distressing experience Of tragedy
after tragedy II has sought 10 be gov
erned by the most thoughtful consldera-
ton Of the extraordinary circumstances
Of the Unprecedented war and to be
Bxf al
friendship for the people and government
Of Germany. II has accepted the success
sive explanations and assurances OF the
imperial government az Of course given
In entire sincerity and good faith and
has hoped even against hope that II would
prove to be possible for the imperial gov
eminent 30 10 order and control the acts
Of It's naval commanders MS to square its
policy with the recognized principles Of
humanity as embodied In the law Of ma
lions. II has made every allowance for
unprecedented conditions and has been
willing to walt until the facts became
unmistakabIe and were susceptible Of only
one Interpretation. II now owes II TO
just regard for It's own right 20 say to
the imperial government that time has
come. II has become painfully evident
to II that the position which II took at
! the very outset is Inevitable; namely, the
use Of submarines for the destruction OF
an enemys commerce, IL, Of necessity,
because Of the very character OF the yes
sells employed and the very methods Of
attack which their employment OF course
Involves, utterly incompatible with the
principles Of humanity, the long estab-
lished and incontroyertible rights OF neu-
trails and the sacred immunities Of non
combatants.
Issue In 10 Germany.
III II Ii still the purpose OF the imperial
government 10 prosecute relentless and
lndiscrimlnate warfare against vessels OF
commerce by the use OF submarines with
out regard to what tho government OF
tho United States must consider the
sacred and indisputable rules OF inter
national law and the universally recog-
nlzed dictates OF humanity. the govern
ment OF the United States Ia at last
forced to the conclusion that there IL but
one course 1t can pursue. Unless the inn
perlal government should now immedi-
ately declare and effect an abandonment
Of Its present methods OF submarine war
fare against passenger and freight carry
ing vessels, the government OF the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether. This action the gov
erament OF the United States contem-
plates with the greatest reluctance, but
feels constrained 10 take In behalf OF
huma nity and tho riuhta of neutral na. !
lions"
The appendix 20 the note under tho cap I
tion Statement Of facts In Sussex euse
accompanying note 10 German govern
mont Of April Is, 1919" follows.
The French channel steamer Sussex, /
mployed regularly In passenger service /
between the ports OF Foikstone. Eng
land. and pieppe, France as il has been
for years tFrcrch Foreign ofticcl. left
FolSstone for nieppo az iA p, M March .
e. 1919, with aa5 or more passengers and
crew % ntysihree men declaration
u captain Mouffrtt. Rear Admiralcras
sets thporn The passengers, among
whom were about twent, five American
citizens telesram London embassy.
March g. and Paris embassy. March =
and -. were Of several nationAlitics and
many 81 them Mpmtn and children and
nearly half " them auhleeta ~ neutral II
states ueport % Commander saYies and I
lieutenant smith Rear Admiral uFas 4
~t6 FepaFti Tbs nlsasA faffied no ~
manent Citeueb fafeisn office fepau ~
Commander Aa1ios aud tieptsnani
smlth stfidtyta 90 Amefifan pasasu
assst kna UatfF nsas aHnntataH a. "A IN