The weekly soliphone., 1915-06-18
Wilson's Note to Germany UNFOLDING
Rights of Americans on the High Seas

.pes Of humanity which throw into the background any
Especial circumstances OF details that may oe ~
German government will doubt be quick TO recognize
and acknowledge out of the class OF ordinary suoec OF
diplomatic discussion of international controversy.
Whatever be the other facts regarding the usltaa te
principal fact is that great steamer primarily ana
chiefly conveyance for passengers, ana carving more
than thousand souls who had no part or lou IN 1e con-
duct of the war, torpedoed and sunk Wthout SO
much as a challenge warning and that men, women
and children sent to their death in circumstances
unparalleled in modern warfare
The fact that more than 100 American citizens were
among those who persisted made the duty of the gov
eminent of the United States to speak OF these things
and more, with solemn emphasis to call the atten-
ton of the imperial German government to the grave
responsibility which the government of the United
States conceves that has incurred in this tragic occur
rence and to the ndisputabe principle upon which that
Estates is contending for something much greater than
mere rights of property or privileges of commerce. 4
u. S. Stands on Principle of Humanity.
1t is contending for nothing less high and sacred
than the rights of humanity, which every government
honors itself in respecting and which government is
justified in resgning behalf Of those under its care
and authority Only perpetual resistance to capture or
refusal to stop when ordered to do so for the purpose OF
visit could have afforded the commander of the subma
rne any justification for SO much as putting the lives OF
those board the ship in jeopardy. This principle the
government of the United States understands the ex-
plicit instructions issued Aug. A. 1914, by the i'm
perial German admiralty to its commanders at to
have recognized and embodied as do the naval codes
of all other nations and upon every traveller and sea-
man had right to depend is upon this principle OF
humanity as we'll upon the law founded upon this
principle, that the United States must stand. ;.
The government of the United States is happy to
observe that your eXceencys note closes with the init
nation that the imperial German government is willing
before to accept the good offices of the United
States in an attempt to come to an understanding with
the government of Great Britain by which the charac-
ter and conditions of the war upon the sea may be
changed.
The government of the United States would consid-
er privilege thus to it's friends and the world
1t stands ready at any time to convey to either govern
ment any ntimation or suggestion the other may bey
willing to have it convey, and cordially invites the i'm
peral German government to make of it's services
in this way at it's convenience The whole world con-
cened in anything that may bring about partial
accommodation OF interests or in any way mitigate the
teTors of the present distressing conflict
In the meantime, whatever arrangements may hap
PLY be made between parties to the and whatever
may in the opinion of the imperial government have been
the provocaton the ccumstanal justification for the
past acts OF its commanders at the government Of
the United States confidently looks to the justice and
humanity of the government of Germany indicated in
all where Americans have been wronged or their
rights neutraS invaded
Representations of Former Note Renewed
The government OF the United States therefore very
earnestly and very solemny the representations
OF its note transmitted to the imperial German govern
ment on the 18th of May and relies in these representa-
tons upon the principles of humanity the universally
recognized understandings of international law and the
ancient friendship of the German nation.
The government of the United States cannot admit
that the proclamation of zone from which neutral
smps nave oeen warned to keep away may be made to
Operate in any degree an abbrevation of the rehts
either OF American shpmasters of American citizens
bound on lawful erands as passengers on merchant
ships OF beigeren nationality 1t does not understand
the imperial German government to question those
rights 1t understands it, also, to accept as established
beyond question the principle that lives of noncombat
ants cannot lawfully or rghfuly be put in jeopardy by
the capture destruction of an unresistinS MERCHANT
man. and to recognize the obligations take sufficient
precauhon to ascertain whether suspected merchant
irving cOntrabrand Of under na11tral flae H.