Mexico Missouri message., 1915-06-17
TONE is MUCH NTLDER THAN WAS TO Be EXPECTED
United States Will Not Abandon Any Part of
Open Sea Because of Declaration War
Zone and VIII Insist on the
Protection of NeutraIs
in That Right

commander of the submarine to al
low himself to be hurried into the
course which he took.
Lusltania Was Not Armed.
Your excellency's note, In discuss
ing the loss Of American lives result
ing from the sinking OF the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length to
certain information which the I'M
perial German government has re-
ceived with regard to the character
and outfit of that vessel, and your
excellency expresses the fear that
this information may not have been
brought to the attention of the gov
eminent of the United States.
1t is stated in the note that the
Lusitania was undoubtedly equipped
with masked guns, supplied with
trained gunners and special ammuni-
ton, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying a cargo not per-
mitted under the laws of the United
States to q vessel also carrying pas
sengers, and serving, in virtual eff
feet, as an auxiliary to the naval
| forces of Great Britain. Fortunately,
these are matters concerning which
the government Of the United States
is in a position to give the Imperial
German government official informa-
ton.
OF the facts alleged in your excel
lency's note, if true, the government
of the United States would have
been bound to take official cogniz-
ance in performing its recognized
duty as a neutral power and in en-
! forcing its national laws. 1t was its
| duty to see to it that the Lusitania
was not armed for offensive action;
that she was not serving as a trans
port, and that she did not carry a
cargo prohibited by the statutes of
the United States, and that if, In fact,
she was a naval vessel Of Great Brit
ain, she should not receive clear
ances as a merchantmen, and 1t per
formed that duty and enforced its
] statutes with scrupulous vigilance
through its regularly constituted Off
cials.
1t is able, therefore, to assure the
Imperial government that it has been
misinformed. If the Imperial German
government should deem itself to be
in possession of convincing evidence
that the officials of the government
of the United States did not perform
these duties with thOroughness, the
government of the United States sin
cerely hopes that it will submit that
evidence for consideration.
Whatever may be the contentious
Of the Imperial German government
regarding the carriage Of contraband
OF war on board the Lusitania, or re-
garding the explosion Of that material
by the torpedo, 1t need only be said
that In the view of this government
these contentious are iITevelant to
the question Of the legality OF the
methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel.
Sacred Rights Of Humanity at Stake
But the sinking OF passenger ships
involves principles of humanity
which throw into the background any
special circumstances of detail that
may be thought to affect the case
principles which lift II, as the I'm
per1al German government will nc
doubt be quick to recognize and &C
knowledge out Of the class or ordi
nary subjects Of diplomatic discussion
or Of international controversy.
Whatever be the other facts re
! garding the Lusitania, the principa
fact is that great steamer, primarily
and chiefly a conveyance for passen
SN~~N~r4NNNSNN~I~ NNNSNNNN~.NN~o
Silas-My wife reigns supreme a
home.
Hez-Mine pours when she has
dime novel to read.