The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-05-20

Washington, D. c., May 13.-
The United States government today
cabled Ambassador Gerard for pre-
sentation to the German government
a note, the full text of which was
made public tonight by the state de-
partmcnt, as follows:
Department of State,
Washington, D. c., May IL, 1919.
''The Secretary of State of the
American Ambassador at Berlin:
please call on the minister of
foreign affairs and, after reading to
him this communication, leave with
him copy.
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
Lusitania on May Z, 1915, by which
over 100 American citizens lost their
lives, it is clearly wise and desirable
that the government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent should come to clear and
full understanding as to the grave
situation which has resulted.
"The sinking of the British pas
senger steamer Fabala by German
submarine on March %, through
which Leon G. Throshcr, an Ameri-
can citizen, was drowned; the attack
on April 20, on the American vessel
Gushing by a German acceptance; the
torpedoing on May l., of the Amerl-
can vessel Gulflight by German
submarine, as result of which two
or more American citizens met their
death: and, finally the torpedoing
and sinking of the steamship Lusi-
tania, constitute series of events
which the government of the United
States has observed with growing
concern, distress, and cmazement.
Recalling the humane and en-
lightened 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 in the field OF in
ternational obligation IS always en-
gagged upon the side of justice and
humanity; and having understood
the instructions of the imperial Ger
man government to its naval COM
manders to be upon the same plane
of humane action prescribed by the
naval codes of other nations, the
government of the United States was
loath to believe-it cannot now
bring itself to believe-that these
acts, so absolutely contrary to the
rules, the practice, and the spirit OF
modern warfare could have the coun-
tenance or sanction OF that great
government.
1T feels it to be it's duty, there
fore, to address the imperial German
government concerning them with
the utmost frankness andi the earn
est hope that it is not mistaken IN
expecting action on the. part OF the
Imperial German government which
will correct the unfortunate impress
sions which have been created and
vindicate once more the position OF
that government with regard to the
sacred freedom of the seas.
''The government of the United
States have been appraised that the
imperial German government con-
sidered themselves to be obliged by
the extraordinary circumstances OF
the present war and the measures
adopted by their adversaries in seek
ing to cut Germany off from all COM
merce. to adopt methods of retalia-
ton which 20 much beyond the or
binary methods of warfare at sea,
in the proclamation of war zone
from which they have warned neu-
trail ships to keep away.
"This government has already TAX
en- occasion to inform the imperial
German government that it cannot
admit the adoption of such measures
or such a warning of danger to oper-
ate as in any degree an abbrevlatl0n
Of the right of American shipmasters
or of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships of belligerent national
ity: and that it must hold the i'm
perial German government to a strict
accountability for any infringement
Of those rights. Intentional or Incl
dental.
'It does not understand the i'm
perial German government to ques-
ton those rights. 1t assumes, on the
contrary, that the imperial govern
ment accept, as of course, the rule
that the lives of noncombatants,
whether they be of neutral citizens
or citizens of one of the nations at
war, cannot lawfully or rightfully
be put in jeopardy by the capture or
destruction of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognize also, as all 9TH
er nations do, the obligation to take
the usual precaution of visit and
search to ascertain whether a sus-
pected merchantmen is in fact, carry
ing contraband of war under neu-
trail flag.