The Ordway new era., 1915-06-18
! submit that evidence lor conslaera.

regarding the carriage of contraband
of war on board the Lusitania or re-
Earding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo, 1t 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-
pies 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 a conveyance for passengers,
and carrying more than u thousand
souls who had no part or lot in the
conduct OF the war, was torpedoed and
sunk without 80 much as challenge
or a warning. and that men, women
and children were sent to their death
Al AA '"os
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.
Ame-isa Contends for all Humanity.
The government of the United
States - contending for something
much greater than mere rights Of
property or privileges of commerce.
II is contending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights OF humans
ity. which every government honors
itself in respecting and which no gov
ernment 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
submarine any Justification for so
much as putting the lives OF those on
board the ship in jeopardy.
This principle the government OF
the United States understands the ex-
plicit instructions issued on Aug. 3,
1914. by the imperial German admir-
atty to its commanders at sea to have
recognized and embodied. as do the
naval codes Of all other nations. and
upon 1t every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Willing to Act as Intermediary.
1t is upon this principle of human.
ity as we'll as upon the law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
States IL happy 70 observe that your
excellency's note closes with the init
nation that the imperial German gov
ernment is willing now as 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 character
and conditions Of the war upon the
sea may be changed.
The government of the United
States would consider 1t a privilege
thus to serve its friends and the
world. 1t stands ready at any time
to convey to either government any
intimation or suggestion the other
may be willing to have It convey and
cordially invites the imperial German
government to make use of its serv.
ices in this way at its convenience.
Previous Representations Renewed.
The wnoie wcrIu 10 concerned in
anything ,nat may DRAG about even d
partial accommodation oi interests OF
in any way n..igaLe the terrors uI the
present 0lstress,nK conflict.
In the meantime, Wnatet er arrange
ment may happii, be maze between
the parues to tne VAR, ana wndIeveI
may IN the opinion uf tne Imperial
German sose -..LenJ nave been The
provOcatiua or the circumsta..llai JUS
tification tor the past acts OF It's com
manders at Sea, the government oil
the United States confidently looks tG
see the justice and humanity or the
government of Germany yInoIcated In
all cases where Americans nave been
wronged or their rights as neutruls
invaded. Tt
The government of the United
States therefore very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the represents
tions of its note transmitted to the
imperial German government ON the
18th of May, and relies In these rep.
resentations upon the principles oi
humanity, the universally recognized
understandings of international law
and the ancient friendship of the Ger.
man nation. ~
The government of the United
States cannot admit that the procla
nation of war zone from which neu.
trail ships have been warned to keep
away, may be made to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights either of American ship mas.
ters or of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer
chant ships of belligerent nationality.
Assurances as to Ships Asked.
1t does not understand the imperial
German government to question those