Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-10-11
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Washington, oct. 10--The text OF
the American memorandum replying
to that Of the allied governments re-
garding treatment of the belligerent
submarines in neutral ports is as fol-
lows.
The government OF the United
States has received the identical
memoranda of the governments of
France Great Britain. Russia and
Japan in which neutral governments
are eXhorted TO take efficacious
measures tending TO prevent bellig-
oront submarines, regardless OF theii
use TO avail themselves of neutra
waters, roadsteads and harbors.
"These governments point out e
facility possessed by such craft Ia
avoid supervision or surveillance
determination Of their national chafet
ter and their power TO dc injury that
! y inherent In their very nature as
otll as the additional facilities af-
lorded by having at the.I disposal
places whore they can rest and re-
plenish their supplies.
Position Unwarranted.
apparently on these grounds, tho
allied governments hold that sub
marine vessels must be excluded
from the benefit of the rules hereto
fore accepted under the rules Of in
ternational law regarding the admin
istration and sojourn of war and mer-
chant vessels in neutral waters road
steads or harbors; any submarine of
a belligorcnt that once enters n neu-
tral harbor must be held there, and
therefore, the allied governments
warn the neutral powers of the great
danger TO neutral submarines attend
ing the navigation Of waters visited
by the submarines of belligeronts.
"In reply the government of the
United states, the allied powers have
not set forth any circumstances nor
Is the government of the United
states at present aware OF any cir
cumstanccs concerning the use of
war or merchant submarines which
would render the existing rules of IN
ternational law inapplicable to them.
'In view of this fact ana of the no
tco and warning of the allied powers
announced in their memoranda un-
der Acknowledgement. It Is ncum-
bent upon the government of the
United states to notify the govern
mcnts Of France, Great Britain, Rus
sia and japan that, so far as the
treatment Of either war or merchant
submarines I'm American waters IS
concerned the government of the
united states reserves its liberty Of
action In All respects and will treat
such vessels as, In It's opinion be
comes the action Of a power which
may be said TO have taken the first
stops toward establishing the prh-
cIplcs Of neutrality ana which for
over "a century has maintained those
principles In the traditional spirit
and with the high sense of impartial
ity in which they We're conceived.
Gives Slarp Answer.
'In order, however, that there
should be no misunderstanding as to
the attitude Of the United states. the
government Of the United states an
/ lbhlltth 10 the blli'u bNNtlo Niittt 81
holds it to be the duty of belligcrent
powers TO distinguish between sub
marines of neutral and bClligCTcnt ma
t,onality, and tltt responsibility for
any conflict that may arise between
bclligCrcnt warships and neutral
/ submarines on account of neglect of
I a bcllgcrcnt submarine TO 80 dis
] tmguiSh between these classes of
/ submarines must rest entirely upon
/ the negligent power
The American memorandum ON use
/ of neutral waters by belligerent sub
marines. the text of which was made
public by the state department to-
night declares the allies have failed to
show why such vessels should be
denied entrance TO neutral ports and
/ that no circumstances have been set
forth rendering the usual provisions
Of international law applicable to un-
dcrvuter craft The United States re-
serves complete liberty of action in
dealing with belligerent submarines,
Deutschland Not Named
No specific mention of the Deutsch-
/ land is made In the memorandum. al
/ though the allied communication is
understood to have been prompted by
the failure of the United states to
consider that vessel as to having no