The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-21
s. DEMANDS
FULL PREPARATION
IOTE is CALLED TO AMBASsA.
Dof GERARD FOR PREsEN-
TATIoN TO GOVERNMENT.
copy TO Won BERNsToRFF
7ension Over the Situation Was ri.
mInished Somewhat in Austro-
German Quarters.

Washington.-The United States
government cabled Ambassador &c
ard for presentation to the German
government a note calling attention
to the grave situation which has re
suited from violation of American
rights on the high sea eliminating
IN the sinking Of the Lusitania. with
loss OF more than 100 American lives
1t sets forth in unmistakatle terms
that the United States government in,
sists on the right of Americans to
take passage on American, neutral OF
b%eligerent ships, with confidence OF
safety and confidence in their gov
eminent sustaining them in that
right.
The communication expresses con.
ffdent expectation of the United
States that the imperial German
government will disavow the acts o.
which the government Of the United
States complains, that they will make
PREPARATION, SO far as reparation is
possible, for injuries which are with
out measure and that they will take
Immediate steps to prevent the recur.
renee Of anything so obviously sub
versive Of the principles of warfors
for which the imperial German gov.
eminent in the past so wisely and SO
firmly commended"
In its conclusion the note states
that "the imperial German govern
inent will not expect the government
OF the United States to omit any, word
OF any act necessary to the perform
ance cs It's sacred duty OF maintain
ing the rights OF the United States
and its citizens and Of safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment"
After three days of preparation ty
President Wilson, with the assistance
of his cabinet, the document was final
iy dispatched shortly before oon It
is expected to reach Ambassador Ge-
rard soon for presentation at the Ger
man Foreign Office.
A copy OF the note was delivered
to Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, by the State Depart
ment.
Tension over the situation WAS di-
minished somewhat in Austro-German
quarters because of the belief that
Germany, being DESTROYS Of preserving
friendly relations with the United
States, probably would find come way
Of meeting the American govern
ment's position without developing a
crisis.
1t is admitted by well-informed dip
lomats that this was the hope Of Ger
man officials here, although on account
of difficulties in communicating, they
professed to be uniformed as to the
views of the German government.
Count Won Bernstorff sent to the
State Department a denial Of publish
ed reports that the embassy here had
,ntimated that Germany would in her
answer refuse to comply with the re.
1uest OF the United States.
Text of the Note.
The full text of the note was made
public by the State Department, AS
follows:
Department of State, Washington,
May IS, 1915.
The Secretary OF State to the
American Ambassador at Berlin:
please call on the minister of
Foreign Affairs and after reading to
him this communication, leave with
him a copy.
"In view of recent acts OF the Ger
man authorities in violation of Amer
team rights on the high seas, which
on May 7, 1915, by which over leo
American citizens lost their lives, il
eliminated in the %torpedoins and sink
ing of the British steamship Lusitania
clearly is wise and desirable that the
government of the United States and
the imperial German government
should come to a clear and full under
standing as to the grave situation
which has resulted.
Americans Killed Before Lusitania.
"The sinking Of the British pas
senger steamer Falaba by a German
submarine on March %, through
which Leon C. Thresher, an Ameri
can citizen, was drowned; the alta k
on April % on the American vessel
Cushing by a German aeroplane; the
torpedoing on May ] of the American
vessel Gulfight by a German subma'
rine. a. a result Of which two or
more American citizens met thet:
death. and, finally, the %torpedofng and
sinking OF the steamship Lusitania,
constitute q series Of events which