Evening star., 1915-06-11

hat Germany Agree II
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Washington June 9, 1915.
American Ambassador Berlin:
You instructed deliver textualy the following
note the minister of foreign AFFAIRS
In compliance with your excellency request did not
fail to transmit government Immediately upon their
receipt your Of May % reply my Of May 15
and your supp pementary of June L. setting forth the
conclusions as reached by the imperial German gov
concerning the attacks the American
Gushing and GuAight. l instructed by my govern
ment to communicate the following in reply:
The government of the United States with gratih
the full recognition by the imperial German
discussing the of the Gushing and the Cult
pt the principle the freedom of all parts of the open
..sa to neutral sps and the frank willingness Of the impe
Ri III German government acknowledge and its la
bty where the fact of attack upon neutral ships which
have been guilty OF hostile act by German aircraft
vessels OF satisfactorily established; and the
gov of the United States will due lay
before the imperial German government requests
full information concerning the attack the steamer
Gushing.
With regard the sinking of the Faaba, by
which American lost his life the government Of
the United States surprised find the imperial German
government contendine that effort the part OF
and assistance alters
the obligation OF the officer seeking make the capture
respect of the safety of the lives Of those board the
merc antman although the vessel had ceased her attempt
escape when torpedoed. These circum-
They have been the minds of and OF
international urists throug the development Of naval
warfare and the of the United States does
understand that they have been held alter the
principles OF humanity upon which has insisted Nothing
but actual orcbe continued efforts escape
by flight when ordered stop for the purpose of
the part OF the merchantmen has been held forfeit
the lives OF her passengers The government OF
the United States however does understand that the
imperial German government seeking In this
relieve itself OF liability but only intends forth the
circumstances which led the commander Of the submarine
allow himself be hurried the which he took
Your excelencys note, In discussing the loss of
American lives resulting from the sinking Of the steamship
Lusitana, advers length certain information
which the imperial German has received with
regard the character and outfit of that and your
exceency the fear that this information may
have been brought the Of the of
the United States. 1t stated the that the Lus
tania undoubtedly equipped with masked guns
supplied with trained sunners and special
Transporting troops from Canada, carrying cargo not
permitted under the laws of the United States vessel
also passengers and serving virtual effect as
auxiliary the naval forces of Great Britain Fort,
nate these matters concerning which the government
of the United States is in position to give the imperial
German government official information OF the facts
alleged excelencys the government of
the United States would have been bound take official
coenzance performing recognized duty as neutral
power and IN enforcing national laws. It it's duty
that the Lusitanla armed for offensive
that she serving transport that she did
carry cargo prohibited by the of the United
States, and that fact she naval vessel of Great
Britain. she should clearance merchant
and it performed that duty and enforced its statutes
with scupulous vigilance through regularly constituted
officials 1t is able, therefore, the imperial Ger
government that it has been misnformed. If the
imperial German government should deem itself be in
Of convincing evidence that the officials of the
government of the United States did perform these
duties with horoushness the government of the United
States sincerely hopes that will submit that evidence for
consideration.
Whatever may be the contentious of the imperial
German regarding the carriage of contraband
OF board the Lstana regarding the explosion Of
the view of this these contentious are rree-
the the legality of the methods used by
the German naval authorities in sinking the vessel.
But the sinking Of passenger ships involves principles