The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-17

so much as putting the lives of those on board the ship in jeopardy. This principle the government of the Unit. ed States understands the explicit in. structions issued on August 8, 1914. by the imperial Government admiralty to its commanders at sea, to have rec. ognized and embodied, as do the na- val codes of all other nations, and upon 1t every traveller and seaman had right to depend It is upon this principle of humanity as well as upon the law founded upon this prln. ciple, that the United States must stand
 Willing to Serve as intermediary
 "The government of the United States is happy to observe that your excellency's note closes with the inti- nation that the imperial German gov ernment is willing, now as before. to accept the good offices of the United States in an attempt 10 come to am understanding with the government of Great Britain by which the char. acter and conditions of the war upon the seas may be changed.
 "The government of the United States would consider 1t a privilege thus to serve its friends and the en. tire world 1t stands ready at any time to convey to either government any intimation or suggestion that the other may be willing to have it convey. and cordially invites the inn perial Goverman government to make use Of its services in this way at its convenience, The world is concern ed in anything that may bring about even partial accommodation of in- terests or in any way mitigate the terrors of the present distressing con- flict.
 "In the meantime, whatever ar rangement may happily be made be- tween the parties to the war and whatever may. in the opinion of the imperial German government. have been the provocation or the circum- stantial justification for the past acts of it's commanders at sen the govern ment of the United States confiden- tially looks to see the justice and humanity of the government of Ger many vindicated in all cases where Americans have been wronged or the rights as neutrals invaded.
 Asks Assurance That Rights Will Be
 Respected
 "The government of the United States therefore very earnestly and very solemnly renews the representa- tions of It's note transmitted to the imperial. German government on the 18th of May and relies in these rep resenlations upon th principles of humanity, the universally recognized understandings of international law and the ancient friendship of the Ger, man nation
 "The government of the United States cannot admit chat the procla. nation of war zone from which neu. eral ships have been warned to keep away may be made to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights either of American shipmasters or of American citizens bound on law ful errands as passengers on mer- chant ships of belligerent nationality It does not understand the imperial German government to question those rights. It understands it also to ac- cept as established beyond question the principle that the lives of nou- combatants cannot lawfully or right fully be put in Jeopardy by the cap ture or destruction of an unresisting merchant ship is in fact of belliger. ent nationality or is in fact carrying contraband of war under a neutral flag The government of the United States therefore deems it reasonable to expect that the imperial German government will adopt the measures necessary to put these principles into practice in respect of the safeguard- ing of American lives and American ships and asks for assurances that this will be done
 (Signed) ROBERT LANSING
 Secretary of State ad Interim