The Green Forest tribune., 1915-06-18
TEXT OF AMERICAN NOTE TO GERMAN GOVERNMENT

by the torpedo, it need only be said that in view of this government these contentious are irrelevant to the ques- tion of the legality of the methods used by the German naval authorities in sinking the vessel.
 Humane Principles the Issue.
 But the sinking of passenger ships involves principles of humanity which throw into the background any spe- cial circumstances of detail that may be thought to affect the cases, princi- ples which lift it, as the imperial Ger man government will not doubt ue quick to recognize and acknowledge, out of the class of ordinary subjects of diplomatic discussion or of inter- national controversy. Whatever be the other facts regarding the LuS- tania, the principal fact is that a great steamer, primarily and chiefly a conveyance for passengers and car rying more than 1000 souls who had no part or lot in the conduct of the war; was torpedoed and sunk without ] so much as a challenge or warning, and that men, women and children were sent to their death in circum- stances unparalleled in modern war fare.
 Forced to Object.
 The fact that more than 100 Ameri- can citizens were among those who perished made it the duty of the gov ernment of the United States to speak of these things and once more, with solemn emphasis, to call the attention of the imperial German government to the grave responsibility which the government of the United States con- ceives that it has incurred in this tragic occurrence and to the undisput- able principle upon which that respon- sibility rests. The government of the United State is contending for some- thing much greater than the rights of property or privileges of commerce. It is contending for nothing less hig, and sacred than the rights of human ity, which every government honors itself in respecting and which no gov ernment is justified in resigning on behalf of those under it's care and al- thority
 United States Ready to Help.
 The government of the United States is happy to observe that your eXcellency's note closes with the in- timation that the imperial German government is willing, now as before, to accept the good offices of the United States in an attempt to come to an understanding with the govern ment of Great Britain by which the character and conditions of the war upon sea may be changed. The gov ernment of the United States would consider it a privilege thus to serve it's friends and the world,
 Expects Justice Done
 In the meantime whatever ar rangement may happily we made be- tween the parties to the war and what ever may, in the opinion of the i'm nerlal German government have been the provocation or the circumstantial Justification for the past acts of it's commanders at sea, the government of the United States confidently looks to see the justice and humanity of the government of Germany vindi- cated in all cases where Americans have been wronged or their rights as neutrals invaded.
 The government of the United States therefore very earnestly and very solemnly renews the representa- tions of it's note transmitted to the imperial German government on tne 18th of May and relics on these repre- sentations upon the principles of hu- manity, the universally recognized un- derstandings of international law and the ancient friendship of the German nation.
 Lives Must Be Respected.
 "The government Of the United States cannot admit that the procla- nation of war zone from which neu- tral ships nave been warned to keep away may De made to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights either of American shipmasters or of American citizens bound on law full errands as passengers on mer- chantships of belligerent nationality It does not understand the imperial German government to question those rights. It understands it also to ac- cept as established beyond question the principle that the lives of non- combatants cannot lawfully or right fully be put in jeopardy by the cap ture or destruction of an unresisting l merchantmen and to recognize the ob- | ligation to take sufficient precaution to ascertain whether a suspected mer- | chantman is in fact of belligerent na-