Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-06-18
WILSON'S NOTE TO
GERMANY IS FIRM
WHILE FRIENDLY IN ITS TERMS
INSISTS UPON PROTECTION
FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS.
The United States Formally Asks GER
many for Assurances That Meas
ures VIII BE Adopted to Safe
guard Lives and Ships.


its lstest note to Germany, made pub
lie on June 10. formally asks the i'm
| perial government for assurance that
measures hereafter will be adopted to
safeguard American lives and Amer
lean ships" on the high seas. The al
tentative In case of refusal Is not
stated.
| II was this note to which William
Jennings Bryan refused to attach his
signature. resigning instead his port.
folio OF secretary Of state. and there
BY precipitating dramatic cabinet
crisis. Robert Lansing. secretary OF
state ad interim. signed the communi.
cation. which went forth with the ap-
proval OF the president and his entire
| cabinet.
The text Of the American rejoinder
to the German governments reply to
the note following the sinking of the
Lusitania follows:
The secretary of state ad interim TO
the American ambassador to Berlin:
Department Of State.
Washington, June 3, 1915.
%aAhSattah onO1ocdNOts IOu
are instructed to deliver textually the
following note to the minister of for
eign affairs:
lency's request did not fail to trans
init to my government Immediately
upon their receipt your note of May
~, in reply to my note of May Is,
and your supplementary note of June
/ 4 eating ha g..
as reached by the imperial German
government concerning the attacks on
the American steamers Cushing and
Gulfiight. l am now instructed by my
government to communicate the fol
lowing In reply:
"The government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government, In discussing the cases of
the Cushing and the Gulflight, of the
principle OF the freedom of all parts
OF the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness of the imperial
government to acknowledge and meet
It's liability where the fact of attack
upon neutral ships which have been
guilty OF any hostile act by German
aircraft or vessels of war is satisfac-
torily established, and the government
OF the United States will in due course
lay before the imperial German gov
eminent, as 1t requests, full informa-
ton concerning the attack ON the
steamer Cushing.
with regard to the sinking of the
steamer Falaba, by which an Amer
lean citizen lost his life. the govern
ment OF the United States Is surprised
to find the imperial German govern
ment contending that an effort on the
part OF merchantmen to escape cap
ture and secure assistance, alters the
obligation OF the officer seeking to
make the capture In respect of the
safety OF the lives of those on board
the n.erchantman, although the vessel
has ceased her attempt to escape
when torpedoed. These are not new
circumstances. They have been in
the minds OF statesmen and of inter-
national 1urists throughout the devel-
opment OF naval warfare, and the gov
eminent OF the United States does
not understand. that they have ever
been held to alter the principles of
humanity upon which 1t has insisted.
Nothing but actual forcible resistance
or continued efforts to escape by
flight when ordered to stop for the
purpose of visit on the part of the
merchantmen has ever been held to
forfeit the lives OF her passengers or
crew. The government, of the United
States, however, does not understand
that the imperial German govern
ment is seeking in this case 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 excellency's note, I'm discus.
sing the loss of American lives result.
ing from the sinking OF the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length to !
certain information which the impe.
rial German government has received
with regard to the character and out.
Mt OF that vessel. and your excellency
expresses the fear that this informa-
ton may not have been brought to
the attention OF the government OF the
United States. II is stated In the note
that the Lusitania was undoubtedly
equipped with masked guns, supplied
with trained gunners and special am.
munition, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying cargo not permit
ted under the laws of the United
Statis to vessel also carrying pas
sengors. and serving. in virtual effect,
as an auxiliary to the naval forces of
Great britain. Fortunately these are
matters concerning which the govern
ment of The United States is IN po-
sition to give the imperial German
government official information. OIL
the facts alleged in your excellency'sl
note, II true, the government of the
United States would have been bound
to take official cogniaance in perform
ing its recognized duty as a neutral
power and In enforcing its national
laws. II was its duty 10 see to 1t that
the Lusitania was not armed for often
sive action; that SHE was not serving
as transport; that she did not carry
a cargo prohibited by the statutes OF
the United States, and that. II in fact |
she was a naval vessel OF Great Brit !
ain. she should not receive clearance |
as merchantmen; and II performed |
that duty and enforced its statutes |
with scrupulous vigilance through its |
regularly constituted officials. IL is |
able, therefore. TO assure the impe- |
rial German government that Il mas
Aoax x,t.tx0nrunaA ..shn L