The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-11-01
DISCUSS U.B0AT PROBLEM.
AMERICAS RELATION TO CUES.
TON TAKEN UP.
Grey Tells QucstiOners That German
Pledge Is Matter for That Country
and America Only.

London, Oct. 26.-SOme utteranceS
of the feeling that the activity OF
American warships in rescuing the
passengers from the vessels sunk by
the German submarine U-53 off. the
American coast amounted to a breach
of neutrality were made today in the
house Of lords by Baron Beresford
and Baron Sydenham.
Lord Beresford is recognized as the
spokesman for the navy. Similar
opinions have been expressed by some
of the newspapers and public men as
we'll as by naval officers, and the mat
ter was brought up for discussion to-
day by requests for information from
Foreign Secretary Grey regarding the
American policy and possible action
by the British government.
Viscount Grey's reply was that the
matter was one between the American
and German governments.
The submarine matter was brought
forward by Lord Sydenham who ask
ed If the particulars Of the sinking of
the British steamer Stephano and the
others had been received and whether
the circumstances were in accordance
to the German pledges to the United
States. He referred to "the activities
OF the U-53 under the very eyes of
the American navy" and the declara-
ton Of President Wilson, which had
resulted in the German pledge.
No life, he said. was lost, because
Eof the presence of American war
ships. Lord Sydenham took the posi-
ton that the presence Of American
warships actually enabled Germany to
defy what he said President Wilson
had described as q sacred and indis-
putable rule of international law.
Baron Beresford said the action of
american ships did not appear to be
quite within the bound of neutrality
and thought the British were bound to
anu SiOSiSc VI tHlS IdCC.
Baron Beresford expressed . the
opinion that Germany intended to
bring America into the war so as to
be able to say she could not fight the
whole world and also because the
United State. would be a valuable as
set to her at the peace conference.
Foreign Secretary Grey said:
we have no understanding with
Ethe United States government as to
EwhatInformation they -goinS to
get or what they will do with the in
FORMATION when they have obtained 1t.
All we can do is to obtain information
for ourselves from such sources as are
open to us. and these sources in this
case / imagine are officers in charge
OF the merchant vessels sunk or pas
sengers, In one case at any rate,
aboard the merchant vessels.
THAT is what is being done on the
other side. l understand. Full re-
ports / trust, will reach the admiralty
In due course as to the statements
OF survivors. and when these reports
are received 1 can not imagine any
reason why they should not be made
public in this country.
Lord %Sydenham," continued ,is-
count Grey. quoted statements made
by Lord Crewe in August of the num-
Der of vessels sunk by German sub
marines since the government gave a
pledge to the United States govern
ment in May of last year, up to the
middle of August in circumstances
which were apparently not in accord
ance with that pledge, which included
firing t%orpedoes at ships without warn
ing and insufficiently providing for
the safety of the crews or passengers
when the ships were sunk. I am sure
the admiralty (indeed, 1 think it has
been made public) can multiply in
stances which have occurred since the
middle Of August and are occurring
every week, of allied or neutral mer-
chant vessels having torpedoes fired
at them without warning. and in some
cases loss Of life occurring from crews
being placed in open boats.
These instances are occurring in
different parts of the world. He asks
whether they occurred off the United
States coast the other day, that is a
matter on which l can not
any opinion until we get the facts,
but If he wishes to know whether
they are occurring elsewhere it is un-
doubleday SO.
Il see no use at this of
discussing the question. The pledge
was one which passed between the
government of Germany and the gov
of the United States. 1t is