The Washington times., 1915-05-14
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Nav l3, 1915

Washington, May 49, 1915.
Please call on the minister of foreign affairs anc
after reading to him this communication leave with
him copy.
In view Of recent acts Of the German authortie:
in violation Of American rights the high seas which
eliminated in the torpedoing and sinking Of the
British steamship Lusitania on May T. 1915 by which
over 100 American citizens lost their lives it is cearI,
wise and desirable that the Government Of the United
States and the Imperial German Government shoulc
come to clear and full understanding as to the grave
situation which has resulted.
The sinking of the British passenger steamer
Falabd by German submarine on March 2S, through
which Leon c. Thrasher, an American citizen wa.
drowned; the attack on April 20 on the American yes
sci Gushing by German aeroplane the torpedoinf
on May of the American vessel Gulflight by Ger
man submarine, a result of which two or more
American citizens met their death; and finally the
torpedoing and sinking Of the steamship Lusitanid
constitute series Of events which the Government
Of the United States has observed with growing con
Germ, distress, and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude
hitherto assumed by the Imperial German Govern
ment in matters Of international right and particu
larly with regard to the freedom Of the seas having
learned to recognize the German views and the Ger
Ill uiC HClu VI OUlRdtlOf
as always engaged upon the side of justice and hu
manity; and having understood the instructions oi
the Imperial German Government to its naval com
manders to be upon the same plane of humane action
prescribed by the naval codes of other nations the
Government of the United States was loath to believe
it can not bring itself to believe these
acts absolutely contrary to the rules the practices
and the spirit of modern warfare, could have the
countenance sanction of that great Government
1t feels it to be its duty therefore, to address the
Imperial German Government concerning them with
the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that il
is not mistaken in expecting action on the part o
the Imperial German Government which will correc
the unfortunate impressions which have been created
and vindicate once more the position of that Govern
ment with regard to the sacred freedom of the
No Excuse Nor Palliation
The Government of the United States has beer
apprised that the Imperial German Government con
sdered themselves to be obliged by the exraordnar,
circumstances of the present and the measures
adopted by their adversares in seeking to cut Ger
many off from all commerce. to adopt methods of re-
taliaon which 60 much beyond the ordinary method:
of warfare at sea, in the proclamation Of zone
from which they have warned neutral ships to keer
away. This Government has already taken occasion
to inform the Imperial German Government that il
not admit the adoption Of such measures or such
warning of danger to operate as in any degree ar
abbreviaton OF the rights Of American shpmasters
Of American citizens bound lawful errands a.
passengers merchant ships of belligerent national
ity; and that it must hold the Imperial German Gov
eminent to strict accountability for any infringe
ment of those rights Intentional or incidental. II
does not understand the Imperial German Govern
ment to question those rights. 1t assumes, on the
contrary, that the Imperial Government accept, oil
course, the rule that the lives of noncombatants
whether they be of neutral citizenship citizens o
of the nations at war, not lawfully right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture destruc
ton Of an unarmed merchantmen and recognize also
as all other nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precaution Of visit and search to ascertain
whether suspected merchantmen is in fact Of bel
lgerent nationality is in fact carrying contrabanc
Of war under neutral flag.
The Government Of the United States, therefore
desires to call the attention of the Imperial German
Government with the utmost earnestness to the fac
that the objection to their present method Of attack
against the trade of their enemies lies in the prac
tical mpossbility of employing submarines in the
destruction Of without disregarding those
rules of ia rness reason justice, and humanity, which
all modern opinion regards as imperative. 1t is prac
tlcally impossible for the officers of submarine tc