The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1915-05-19
CALLS FOR A HALT
u. S. ASKS FOR A STOP In USE
OF SUBMARINES
GUARDS CITIZENS RIGHTS

- 49,
Exposed in the Wide Use of the
Submarine Against Enemy Mer-
chantmen.
The United States government has
eabled Ambassador Gerard for pre-
sentation to osthe German government
j note calling attention stto the grave
situation which has resulted from
violation of American rights on the
high seas, eliminating in the sinking
OF the Lusitania, with a loss OF more
than one hundred American lives.
The full text of the note was made
public Thursday night by the state
department as follows:
& Department Of State,
S Washing gton, May 3d. ,11915.
z The Secretary OF State to:the Am
bassador at Berlin:
Please call on the minister of for
seign affairs and, after reading to him
this comm unication, leave with him
a copy.
e In view Of recent acts OF, the Ger
man authorities in violation of Amer
( lean rights on the high seas, which
eliminated in the torpedoing and
sinking OF the British steamship Lusi-
tania on May {, 1915, by which over
one hundred American citizens lost
their lives, It is clearly wise and de-
sirable that the government Of the
United States. and the Imperial Ger
man government should come to a
clear and full understanding sas to
the grove situation which has result
ed.
ssThe sinking Of the British pas
senger steamer Falaba by German
submarine on March %, through
which Leon @. Thresher, an Amerf-
can cfisi.zen, was drowned; the attack
on April 20 on the American. vessel
Gushing by o German aeroplane; the
torpedoing on May 1 Of the Ameri-
can vessel Gulflight by German
submarine, as result of which two
or more American citizens met their
death, and finally, the torpedoing rand
sinking of the steamship Lusitania,
constitute a series of events which
the government Of the United States
has observed with growing concern,
distress and amazement.
Previous Attitude.
Recalling the humane and en-
Iightened attitude hitherto assumed
by the Imperial German government
In matters of International right, and
particularly with regard to the free
dom of the seas; having learned to
recognize the German views and the
German Influence on the field of In
ternational obligation as always en-
gagged npon The side Of justice and
humanity, and having understood the
instructions OF the Imperial German
rnment to- It's naval commanders
10 beupon the same plane of humane
action prescribed by the naval codes
of other nations, the government OF
the United States was loath to be-
iieVe-it can not now bring itself to
believe that these acts, SO absolute
" contrary to the rules, the practices
and the spirit of modern warfare,
could have the countenance or sane
ton 5of that great government.
"It feels it to be its duty, there
.,
government concerning them with
the utmost frankness and in the earn
est hope that it is not mistaken in ex-
pecting action on the part of the I'm
perial German government which will
correct the unfortunate impressions
which have been created and vindi-
cate once more the position of that
government with regard to the sacred
freedom Of the seas.
Retaliatory Methods.
s.The government of the United
States has been apprised that the I'M
perial German government consider
ed themselves to be obliged by the
] extraordinary circumstances Of the
present war and the measures adopt
Sed by their adversaries in seeking to
5cut Germany off from all commerce,
go adopt methods of retaliation which
go much beyond the ordinary meth
DDS of warfare at sea, in the procla-
Smation Of a war zone from which
hey have warned neutral ships to
keep away
R s<This government has already
Eaken occasion to inform the I'm
perial German government that it
Ian not admit the adoption of such
neasures or such a warning Of dan
SSer to operate as in any degree an
~ bbreyiation Of the rights of Ameri-
Ian ship masters Or of American citi-
lens bound on lawful errands as pas
sengers on merchant ships of bellig-
srent nationality, and that it must
hold the Imperial German govern
ment to strict accountability for
sany infringement of those rights, in
<fernaMonaI or incidental.
sit does not understand the I'm
peria1 German. government to ques-
ton those rights. It assumes, On the
ycontrary, that the Imperial govern
ment accept, as of course, the rule
that the lives Of non-combatants,
whether they be of neutral citizen
ship or citizens of one of the n;.tions
sat war, can not lawfully or rightfully
be put in jeopardy by the capture or
destruction of an unarmed merchant
naan, and recognize also, as all other
nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precaution of visit and search