The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-06-18
STATE DEPARTM ENT

III WASHINGTON, June 9, 1915
Ill American Ambassador, Berlin:
Ill You are instructed to deliver textua'ly the fol-
III LOWING note to the Minister Of Foreign Affairs:
III In compliance with Your ExcelIencys request
III did not fail TO transmit to my Government immed
ateiy upon their receipt your note of May 20 in reply
II to my note of May IS, and your supplementary note
II Of June /, setting forth the conclusions so far as
II reached by the Imperial German Government con-
Il cernne the attacks the American steamers Cush
Il no and GuIAeht. | am now instructed by my Gov.
II ernment TO communicate the following In reply:
II The Government of the United States notes with
II qualification the full recognition by the Imperial Ger
II man Government in discussing the Of the cush-
II ina and Guheht, Of the principle Of the freedom OF
II all parts of the open to neutral ships and the
frank willingness of the Imperial German Govern
ment to acknowledge adm meet it's liability where the
fact Of attack upon neutral ships (which have not
been guilty Of any hostile act" by German aircraft or
H vessels of Is satisfactorily established; and the
Government Of the United States will In due course,
II lay before the imperial German Government, az It
requests full information concerning the attack on
II the steamer Gushing.
H SURPRISE AT GERMANY's CONTENTION AS TO
H FALABA.
With regard to the SINKING OF tno steaHer 'a'"pe'
by which an American citizen lost his life the Gov
ernment Of the United States surprised to find the
Imperial German Government contendins that an ef-
fort on the part Of merchantmen to escape capture
and secure assistance alters the obligation Of the
officer seeking make the capture In respect OF the
safety of the lives those board the merchant
man, although the vessel had ceased her attempt to
escape when torpedoed. These are not new eircum'
bave been in he
and Of international Jursts throughout the develop
| ment of naval warfare, and the Government of the
United States does not understand that they have
ever been held to alter the principles Of humanity
upon which IL has insisted. Nothing but actual forci-
BILE resistance continued efforts to escape by flight
to stop for the purpose Of visit on the
part of the merchantmen has ever been held to for
felt the lives of her passengers or crew. The Gov
ernent Of the United States, however, does not un-
derstand that the Imperial German Government Is
seeking in this TO relieve itself Of liability, but
only intends to set forth the circumstances which led
the commander of the submarine to allow himself to
be hurried into the course which he took.
Your Exceency's note In discussing the loss Of
American lives resulting from the sinking Of the
steamship Lustania adverts at some length to GER
tain information which the Imperial German Govern
ment has received with regard to the character and
outfit Of that vessel and Your Excellency expresses
the fear that this information may not have been
brought to the attention Of the Government Of the
United States II is stated in the note that the LusI
tania was undoubtedly equipped with masked guns
supplied with trained gunners and special ammuni
tion, transporting troops from Canada, carrying
cargo not permitted under the laws Of the United
States to vessel also carrying passengers, and
serving, in virtual effect, auxiliary to the naval
forces Of Great Britain. Fortunately these mat
ters concerning which the Government Of the United
States is in position to give the Imperial German
Government official information OF the facts alleged
in Your Exeeeney's note, true, the Government of
the United States would have been bound to take
official ooenizanee in performing Its recognized duty
as a neutral power and in enforcing its national laws
II it's duty to to IL that the Lustania
armed for offensive action that she serving
as a transport; that she did carry cargo pro-
hbted by the statutes Of the United States that
IL In fact she naval vessel Of Great Britain she
should not receive clearance merchantmen; and
IL performed that duty and enforced its statutes with
scrupulous vigilance through it's regularly constituted
officials. II is able, therefore, to assure the Imperial
German Government that IL has been nislnformed.
WILLING TO HEAR eERMANY's EVIDENCE AS
TO LusiTANiA.
n the Imperial German Government should deem
itself to be in possession Of convincing evidence that
officials OF the Government Of the United States
did not perform these duties with thoroushness the
Government Of the United States sincerely hopes
that II will submit that evidence for consideration.
Whatever may be the contentious Of the Imperial
German Government regarding the carriage Of con.
trsbsnd Of board the Lusitanis, or regarding
the explosion Of that material by the torpedo u need
only be said that In the view OF this Government