The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1915-05-19

Department of State, Washington,
May 13, 1915.
The Secretary of State to the
American Ambassador at Berlin:
Please call on the minister of for
eign affairs and after reading to him
this communication, leave with him
copy.
In view of recent acts of the Ger
man authorities in violation of
American rights on the high seas,
which eliminated in the torpedoing
and sinking of the British steamship
Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which
over 100 American citizens lost
their lives, it is clearly wise and de-
sirable that the government of the
United States and the Imperial Ger
man government should come to a
clear and full understanding as to
the grave situation which has re-
suited.
The sinking of the British passen-
ger steamer Falabia by a Germap
submarine on March 28, through
which Leon c. Thrasher. an Amesi
can citizen, was drowned; the a.
tack on April 2s on the American
vessel Cushing by German aero
plane; the torpedoing on May l OF
the American vessel Gulfight by a
German submarine as result OF
which two or more American citi-
zens met their death; and, finally,
the torpedoing and sinking of the
steamship Lusitania, constitute a
series of events which the govern
ment of the United tSates has OBJ
served with growing concern, dis
tress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and en-
lightened attitude hitherto assumed
by the imperial German government
in matters of international right and
particularly with regard to the free
dom of the seas; having learned to
recognize the German views and the
Gel man influence in the field of in
ternational obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side of justice and
humanity; and having understood
the instructions of the imperial Ger
man government to its naval COM
manders to be on 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 cannot now bring
itself to believe-that these acts, so
absolutely contrary to the rules, the
practices and the spirit of modern
warfare, could have the countenance
or sanction of that great govern
ment 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 1t is
/ not mistaken In expecting action on
the part of the imperial German gov
ernment which will correct the un-
fortunate impressions which have
been created, and vindieate once
more the position of that govern
ment with regard to the sacred free
dom of the seas.
The government of the United
States has been apprised that the
imperial German government con
sidered themselves to be obliged by
the extraordinary circumstances OF
the present war. and the measures
adopted by their adversaries in seek
ing to cut Germany off from all COM
merce. to adopt methods of retail
alton which go much beyond the
ordinary methods of warfare at sea
in the proclamation of a war zone
from which they have warned neu-
trail ships to keep away. This gov
ernment has already taken occasion
to inform the imperial government
that il cannot admit the adoption OF
such measures or such warning OF
danger to operate as in any degree
an abbreviation of the rights OF
American shipmasters or of Ameri-
can citizens bound on lawful err
rands as passengers or merchant