Word: germanism
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Dates: during 1910-1919
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...purpose of giving "to innocent owners of vessels and cargoes which happen to be caught in what becomes an enemy's port an opportunity to save their ships and lading." Neither the treaties nor the law, however, foresaw nor took account of the peculiar circumstances of the German ships in the ports of the United States...
...German ships which have been lying in our harbors since war began without a chance of reaching a home port have received, and as far as possible, carried out orders from the German Government to the effect that they be disabled so that for many months they would not be able to go to sea. The utmost that could be expected by these ships would be permission to leave port within a few days after hostilities began, Disabled vessels, not able to fulfill this condition, could expect no immunity...
...German vessels have been centres of plots against the United States which will continue as long as the crews are allowed to remain on board...
These facts present a good case for the seizure of the merchantmen even in time of peace, and a far stronger case will result at the outbreak of war. "No German merchantmen should be permitted under any circumstances to leave our ports, and they should be immediately taken out of the hands of their officers and crews...
...grieved and shocked at the prospect of war with Germany, and would have accepted any honorable settlement; but it would be dishonorable to allow our commerce to be destroyed or excluded from the high seas as the price of peace. The behavior of the officers and crews of the German merchant ships in our ports is one of the many proofs that it is impossible to preserve peace with a nation which so contemns the dignity, rights, and laws of the American Union...