The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-06-16
Qext Of the American Mote to Germany
reply to the Note following the Lusania Sir
Text of the American Reoinder to the German Govern

carrying a cargo not permitted under
the laws of the United States to YES
sci also carrying passengers, and serv-
ing, in virtual effect, as an auxiliary
to the naval forces of Great Britain.
4"Fortunately these are matters con-
corning which the government OF the
United States is in position to give
the imperial German government Off
cial information. OF the facts alleged
in your excellencys note, if true, the
government of the United States would
have been bound to take official cogni
zance in performing its recognized duty
as neutral power and in enforcing 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 transport, that she did not
carry cargo prohibited by the stat
utes of the United States, and that, if
in fact she was a naval vessel Of Great
Britain she should not receive clear
ance as merchantmen and it per-
formed that duty and enforced its stat
utes with scrupulous vigilance through
its regularly constituted officials. 1t is
able, therefore, to assure the imperial
German government that it has been
misinformed
IF the imperial German govern
ment should deem itself to be in pos
session of convincing evidence that the
officials Of the government OF the Unit
ed States did not perform their duties
with thoroughness, the government Of
the United States sincerely hopes that
it will submit that evidence for consid-
GRAFTON.
whatever may be the contentious
Of the imperial German government re-
garding the carriage OF contraband of
war on board the Lusitania or regard
ing 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 ques
ton Of the legality Of the methods used
sinking that vessel.
But the sinking Of passenger ships
involves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstance of detail that may be
thought to affect the case, principles
which lift it, as the imperial govern
ment will no doubt be quick to recog-
nize and acknowledge, out OF the class
OF ordinary subjects of diplomatic dis
cussion or Of international controversy.
The Real Issue.
Whatever be the other facts regard
ing the Lustania, it is true that great
steamer, primarily and chiefly con-
veyance for passengers and carrying
more than thousand souls who had no
part or lot in the conduct of the war,
was torpedoed and sunk without SO
much as challenge or warning, and
that men. women and children were
sent to their death in circumstances
unparalleled in modern warfare. The
fact that more than 100 American citi-
zens were among those WHO persisted
made it the duty Of the government OF
the United States to speak of these
things and once more, with solemn en-
phasis, to call the attention of the i'm
perial German government to the grave
responsibility which the government of
the United States conceives that it has
incurred in this tragic occurrence, and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
The government OF the United
States is contending for something
much greater than the mere rights OF
property or privileges Of commerce. Il
is contending for nothing less high and
sacred than the rights Of humanity
which every government honors itself
i'll respecting and which no government
is justified in resigning on behalf OF
those under its care and authority.
Only her actual resistance to cap
ture or refusal to stop when ordered to
do SO for the purpose OF visit could
have afforded the commander of the