Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-21
THE SECOND AMERICAN NOTE.

Americas second note to Germany OH tn,
submarine warfare has been called milder nott
than the first, but below the courteous phrase
ology there is more than hint of adamant de
termination. ~.
Diplomats of the blood and iron school may
not gather all the significance of the adroi
phrases. If they do, they will understand that
President Wilson and Secretary Lansing have
found more than one opening in the German
note of reply, and in these openings they have
inserted wedges of demand that Germany viii
find it hard to overlook.
In answer to the German claim that the Lusi
tania carried masked guns, trained gunners
Canadian troops and cargo not permitted by
/ q. s. law, the note comments significantly that
eff the Imperial German government should
deem itself to be in possession of convincing
evidence that the officials of the government OF
the United States did not perform these duties
preventing such shipments with thorough
ness the government of the United States sin.
|cerely hopes that it will submit that evidence
for consideration. a -
This puts It up 10 Germany teafurnish suninf-
peachable information or be forced to admit
itself badly in the wrong.
The American note takes particularly keen
advantage of the evasive character of the Ger
man reply to the first representations. 1t will
be remembered that the German note, while
stating that German Submarine commanders
are no longer able to observe the customary
regulations of the prize law THAT is, of stop
page and search before destroying vessels) did
80 l.l, ~ ,f cl,,,S
with the resultant loss of non combatant lives
justified by the necessities of warfare 1t left
open the question of what is to be done about
the Lusitania case. 1t did not affirm its inten-
ton to continue its submarine campaign un-
|qualifedlv and undated.
The American note Immediately and for OBJ
vions purposes assumes that Germany cannot
defend her course to the full. In the closing
paragraphs the American note says:
The government of the United States cannot admit
that the proclamation of Zone from which neu-
trail ships have been warned to keep away may be
made to operate In any degree abbreviation of
the rights either OF American shipmastefs or of s
American citizens bound en- lawful GRAND as passen
does not understand the Imperial German govern
question those rights It understands It also
accept established beyond question the princi-
pie that the lives ofnon-combatants cannot lawfully
rightfully be put in jeopardy BY the capture or
destruction of unresisting merchantmen and TO s.
recognize the obligation to take sufficient precauon
. ascertain whether suspected merchantmen Is in
fact beIligerent nationality, is in fact carrying
contraband OF under neutral flag.
The government of the United States therefore.
deems it reasonable to expect that the Imperial Ger
man government will adopt the measures necessary
put these principles into practise in respect of the
safeguarding OF American lives and American ships
and asks for assurances that this will be done.
BY resolutely refusing to admit that Germany
can justify the lengths to which her submarine
war has gone, the United States places German
diplomacy in position wheP, to emerge with
the respect of the world, it must acknowledge
the thigh and sacred rights of humanity" so
eloquently upheld in the American note.
49,.