Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-11
second NOTE OF
UNITED STATES
Wilson Demands Assurance
of Safety for Ameri-
can Citizens
FRIENDLY BUT FIRM.
Government Stands Fast on Princi-
Piles Laid Down in First Protest
Against Submarine War.

Washington, June 1.-THE United
States in it's latest note to Germany
formally asks the Imperial Govern
ment for assurance that measures
hereafter will be adopted to safe
guard american lives and American
ships" on the high seas. The alter
native in case of refusal is not stated.
Friendly terms characterize the do
cument, which renews representations
made in the American note that reach
ed Germany on May Is, after the
Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk
with loss of more than 100 Ameri-
can lives. The German Government
it is declared, "must have been mis-
informed" when it assumed that the
Lusitania carried guns, as official in
formation is at hand to corroborate
the original contention Of the Wash
ington Government that the Lusi-
tania was an unarned passenger
ship which, since it did not resist
capture, could not be sunk without
transferring passengers and crew to
a place of safety.
The communication informs Ger
many that it is son the principle of
humanity as we'll as upon the law
founded upon this principle that the
United States must stand"
Opportunity rs, given to Germany
to submit any evidence that Ameri-
can officials did not execute their task
thoroughly in inspecting the Lusitania
before she sailed, but the cardinal
fact-that the liner was given no
warning and made no resistance and
was primarily passenger ship
the American Government declares
throws "into the background any spe-
cial circumstances of detail" and lifts
the case ''out of the class of ordi-
nary subjects of diplomatic discus
sion or international controversy"
The note contains not suggestion
of buster. There are no such phrases
in it as "strict accountability" or
"omit any word or act necessary,
such as gave. the, note of May Is
menacing character.
1t was the absence of such threa-
tening phrases which created the
general impression that the new note
gave assurance of a peaceful settle
ment of the issue between the two
countries. :,
But there lis no: abatement of the
insistences upon the principles of in
ternational law which the Presi-
dent sought to: uphold in his. previous
communication: He still coptends that
the sacred rights of humanity were
violated by the sinking of the Lusl-
tania and that all the questions raised
by Germany as to the character of
the vessel are irrelevant.
He still maintains that the sink
ing of the Falaba was unjustified.
He declares that the United States
"very earnestly and very solemnly
renews the representations OF its note
transmitted to the Imperial German
Government on the 18th of May"
He still asserts that America
citizens bound on lawful. errands have
right to travel on merchant snip:
of belligerent nationality without be
ing placed in jeopardy by German
submarine warfare.
But while, in4the. view of diplomat'
there is no recession from former de
mands, there is noted very decd
ed change in tone in the new not
from the tone which ran through tn
first note.
The view of this, second note il
diplomatic circles is that it mark
distinct progress toward straighten
ing out the difficulties existing be
tween the two governments and elim1
mates the possibility of war.
From diplomatic standpoint tn
greatest significance is attached t
the use of the phrase freedom OF q
parts of the sea-" which is recogni'