The Keota news., 1915-06-18
Information Held by America.

Fortunately, these are matters con
cerning which the government OF the
United States Is in q position to give
the imperial German government Oh
ficial information.
OF the facts alleged in your excel
lency's note, II true, the government
of the United States would have been
bound to take official cognizance In
performing its recognized duty as a
neutral power and In enforcing ats
national laws.
II was its duty to see to It that the
Lusitania was not armed for offens-
i've action: that she was not serving
as a transport: that she did not carry
a cargo prohibited by the statutes Of
the United States and that, II In fact
she was a naval vessel of Great Brit
ain she should not receive clearance
as a merchantmen; and 1t performed
that duty and enforced its statutes
with scrupulous vigilance through its
regularly constituted officials.
Submission Of Evidence Suggested.
1t is able, therefore. to assure the
imperial German government that 1t
has been misinformed. II the imperial
German government should deem It's
self to be in possession Of convincing
evidence that the officials Of the gov
ernment Of the United States did not
perform these duties with thorough
ness. the government Of the United
States sincerely hopes that 1t will
submit that evidence for considera-
tion.
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. It need only be said
that in the view Of this government
these contentious are irrelevant to
the question of the legality Of the
methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking that vessel. But
the sinking Of passenger ships in
wolves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances Of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases, princi.
r!ss which lift it, as the imperial
government will no doubt be quick
to recognize and acknowledge, out Of
the class or ordinary subjects of dip
lomatic discussions or of international
controversy.
Whatever be the other facts regard
ing the Lusitania, the principal fact
is that great steamer, primarily and
chiefly conveyance for passengers,
and carrying more than q thousand
souls who had no part or lot In the
conduct Of the war, was torpedoed and
sunk without SO much as q challenge
or warning, and that men, women
and children were sent to their death
In circumstances unparalleled In mod
ern warfare,
The fact that more than one hun.
dred American citizens were among
those who perished, made 1t the duty
OF the government. of the United
States to speak Of these things and
once more. with solemn emphasis, to
call the attention Of the imperial Ger
man government to the grave respon.
sibility which the government of the
United States conceives that it has in.
Cured in this tragic occurrence, and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
America Contends for all Humanity.
The government Of the United
states ts contending for something
much greater than mere rights Of
property or privileges of commerce
II Is contendtng for nothing less high
! and sacred than the rights of human.
ity. which every government honors
itse'f IN respecting and which no gev.
ernment Is justified in resigning on
Denaif OF those under its care and
authority.
only her actual resistance to can.
ture or refusal to stop when ordered
70 90 50 for the purpose Of visit could
nave afforded the commander OF the