The Elbert County tribune., 1916-04-21
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS:

situation has arisen in the foreign
rotations of the country. of which IL is
my plain duty to inform you very
II will be recalled that In February.
1919, the Imperial German government
announced it's intention to treat the
waters surrounding Great Britain and
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-
ton of the high seas. and that IL
warned all vessels of neutral well
as OF belliserent ownership, to keep
scribed or else enter them at their
peril
Says Gross Abuses Are Certain.
The government of the United States
earnestly protested. 1t took the posi-
ton that such policy could not bo
ty OF gross and palpable violation of
the law OF nations. particularly IL sub
marine craft were to be employed as
Its Instruments. inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law, rules founded
upon principles of humanity and es-
tablishod for the protection of the Ewes
OF non-combatRnts ut sea, could rot In
the nature of the case be observed by
such vessels.
II based its protes. 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
or TO expose them to such risks. could
lawfully be asserted by any belliger-
ent government
The law of nations in these matters.
United states based it's protest, is not
of recent origin, or founded upon
convention. 1t is based, on the con-
trary, upon manifest and imperative
principles of humanity and has long
been established with the approval and
Inv nj nf oil 81
nations.
Germany Disregnrds All Protests.
Notwithstanding tho earnest protest
OF our government, the imperial Ger
man government at once proceeded to
carry out the policy It had announced.
1t expressed the hope that the dangers
involved. at nny rate the dangers to
neutral vessels, would be reduced to a
minimum by the instructions which 1t
had Issued to its submarine command
ers and assured the government OF the
United States that II 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 insusccptible 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
could encounter them. in a way that
has grown more and more ruthless,
more and more indiscriminate the
months have gone by. less and less OBJ
servant of restraints of any kind; and
have delivered their attacks without
compunction against vessels of every
nationality and bound upon every sort
of errand.
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
belliSerent ownership In constantly-in-
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 agnin no warning had
been given. no escape even to the
ships boats allowed to those on board.
What this government foresaw must
happen has happened. Tragedy has
followed tragedy on the seas In such
fashion. with such attendant circum-
stances. as to make 1t grossly evident
that warfare of such sort, If war
fare II be. cannot be carried on with
dictates alike of right and humanity.
Whatever the disposition and inten-
tion of tho imperial German govern
ment, 1t has manifestly proved impos-
sible for IL to keep such methods of
attack upon the commerce OF its enc
mics within the bounds set by either
the reason or the heart of mankind.
In February of the present year. the
imperial German government informed
this government and the other neu-
tral governments of the world that IT
had reason to believe that the gov
ernment Of Great Britain had armed
all merchant vessels OF British owner
ship, and had given them secret or
ders to attack any submarine of the
enemy they might encounter upon the
seas and that the Imperial German
government felt justified in the cir
cumstances in treating all merchant
men Of belllgerent ownership AS aux
Hilary vessels of war, which 1t would
have the right to destroy without
warning.
Germany Sets Aside Inv of Nations.
The law of nations has long recos
nzed the right of merchantmen to
carry arms for protection and to use
them to repel attacks, to use them in
such circumstances at their own risk;
but the imperial German government
claimed the right to set these under
standings aside under circumstances
which II deemed extraordinary.
Even the terms In which II an
nOunced Its purpose thus still further
TO relax the restraints II had previ
oLsly professed Its Willingness and de
sire TO put upon the operations of It's
submarines carried the plain implica-
tiun that at least vessels which We're
not armed would, be exempt from de
struction without warning and that
personal safety would he accorded
their passengers and crews but even
that Limitation. II II was ever practi-
cable to observe It, 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
nles VIII Case Anain at Issue.