Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-11

(OAAhCAAAOA0 - aAl " iAG QuGE@
ton OF the legality of the methods
used by the German naval authorities
in sinking the vessel.
But n sinking of passenger ships
involves principles OF humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases, principles
whtch lift IL, as the Imperial German
Government will no doubt be quick to
recognize and acknowledge, out of the
class of ordinary subjects of diplomatic
discussion or OF International contro-
versy. Whatever be the other facts re-
garding the Lusitania, the principal
TACT is n a a great steamer, primarily
and chiefly a conveyance for passeng-
ers, and carrying more than a thou
sand souls who had no part or lot in
The conduct of the war, was torpedoed
and sunk without 50 much as . chal-
lenge or a warning and that men, wo-
men and children were sent to their
death in circumstances unparalleled
In warfare.
The fact that more than one hun
dred American citizens were among
those who persisted made it the DUTY
OF the Government of the United States
to speak of these things and once
more, with solemn emphasis, to call
the of the Imperial German
government to the grave responsibility
which the Government of the United
states conceives that 1t has incurred in
this tragic occurrence and to the in
d~lsputable principle upon which that
responsibility rests. The Government
of the United States is contending for
something much greater than mere
rights OF property or privileges of
commerce. It Is ~contending for moth
ing less high and sacred than the
rights of humanity, which every gov
GrnmPnf hnnnr.S fflaIf In waevNnn&sn-~ -l
which no government is justified i'm
resfgning on behalf of those under its
care and authority.
Only her actual resistance to cap
ture or refusal to stop when ordered to
do so for the purpose of visit could
nave afforded the commander of the
any justification for so
much as putting the lives of those on
board the ship in Jeopardy. This prin-
ciple the Government of the United
states understands the explicit instruc-
tons issued on August 3, 1914, by the
Imperial German Admiralty to its
commanders at sea to have recognized
and embodied, as do the naval codes of
all other nations, and upon it every
traVele and seaman had a right to de-
pend. 1t is upon this principle of hu-
mainly, this principle, that the United
States must stand.
The Government of the United States
is happy to observe that your Excel
lencys note closes with the intima-
ton hat the Imperial German Gov
is willing. now as before, to
accept the good offices of the United
States in an attempt to come to an
understanding with the Government of
Great Britain by which the character
and conditions of war upon the sea
may be changed. The Government of
the United States would consider 1t a
privilege thus to serve its friends and
the world. 1t stands ready at any
time to convey to either government
n intimation or suggestion the 9TH
er may be willing to have it convey,
and cordially invites the Imperial Ger
man Government to make use of its
services in this way at its convent
ence. The whole world is concerned in
anything h a may bring about even a
partial accommodation of interests or
in n way mitigate the terrors of the
present distressing conflict.
In the meantime, whatever arrange
ments may happily be made between
the parties of the war. and whatever
may, in the opinion of the Imperial
German Government, have been the
or the circumstantial JUS
tincatton for the past acts of the COM
at sea, the Government of the
States confidently looks to see
the justice and humanity of the Gov
II lllAlGLI vi Vel IudIy NluulCdI6u IN all
cases where Americans have been
wronged or their rights as neutrals
invaded.
The Government OF the United States
therefore, very earnestly and very
solemnly renews the representations of
it's note transmitted to the Imperial
Government on the fifteenth
of May, and relies in these representa-
tions pom the principles of human
ity, the universally recognized under
standings of international law and the |
friendship OF the German ma !
ton.
The Government of the United States
admit that the proclamation of
q war zone from which neutral ships
been warned to keep away may
be made TO operate as in any degree
Authorization of the rights either of
shipmasters or of American
citizens bound on lawful eTrands as
passengers on merchant ships of bel
nationality. It does not UNI
the Imperial German Govern
ment to question these rights. 1t un-
it, also, to accept as estab-
lished beyond question the principle
the lives of noncombatants can
not lawfully or rightfully be put in |
Jeopardy by the capture or destruction |
of an unresisting merchantmen, and
to recognize the obligation to take suf-
f1cient ~precaution to ascertain whether
suspected merchantmen is in fact of
nationality or is in fact
carrying contraband of war under a
neutral flag.
The Government of the United States
therefore, deems it reasonable to ex-
pect that he Imperial German Gov
eminent Will adopt the measures nec-
essary to put these principles into
practice I'm respect of the safeguarding !
of American lives and American ships, |
and asks for assurances that this will
be done.
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary of State ad interim.