Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-20
TEXT OF THE NOTE

The full text Of the note was made
public tonight by the state department
az follows:
Department Of State, Washington, May
10. 1918.
The Secretary of State to the Ameri-
can Ambassador at Berlin:
Please call on the minister of foreign
affairs and after reading to him this
communication leave with him a copy.
In view Of recent acts of the German
authorities in violation Of American
rights on the high seas which eliminated
in the torpedoing and sinking Of the
British steamship Lusitania on May l.
1915. by which over 100 American citizens
lost their lives, it is clearly wise and
desirable that the government Of the
United States and the imperial German
government should come to "A clear and
fun understanding to the grave aitua-
ton which has resulted.
THE FOUR ATTACKS
The sinking of the British passenger
steamer Falaba by "A German submarine
on March %, through which Leon G.
Thrasher, American citizen. was
drowned; the attack on April rs on the
American vessel Gushing by German
acroplane; the torpedoing on May l of
the American vesse. Gulilght by Ger
man submarine, az a result of which two
or more American citizens met their
death; and, finally. the torpedong and
sinking of the steamship Lusitania, con-
stltute a series of events which the gov
eminent of the United States has OBJ
served with growing concern. distress and
Amusement.
INHUMANITY UNBELIEVABLE
Recalling the humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by the imperial
German government in matters of inter-
national right and particularly with re-
gard to the freedom of the seas. having
learned to recognize the German views
and the German influence in the field of
international obligation always en-
gagged upon the side Of Justice and hui
mainly; and having understood the in
structons of the imperia, German gov
eminent to its naval commanders to be
upon the same plane of humane action
prescribed by the naval codes of other
nations, the government of the United
States was loath 20 believe 1T can not
nov bring itself TO believe-that these
acts SO absolutely contrary to the rules.
warfare could have the countenance or
sanction Of that great government 1t
feels 1T to be its duty. therefore, to ad-
dress the imperial German government
concerning them with the utmost frank
ness and In the earnest hope that It is
not mistaken in expecting action on the
part Of the imperial German government
which viii correct the unfortunate i'm
Sgiopg which bDV bae, nd
vindcate once more the position of that
government with regard 20 the sacred
freedom Of tine seas
VISIT AND SEARCH
The government of the United States
has been appraised that the imperial
German government considered them
selves to be Obliged, by the extraordinary
circumstances of the present war and the
measures adopted by their adversaries
In seeking to cut Germany off from all
commerce, to adopt methods of rctaia-
ton which go much beyond the ordinary
methods of warfare nj sea, IN the
proclamation Of war zone from which
they have warned neutral ships to keep
away. This government has already taken
occasion to inform the imperial German
Sovenment that il can not admit the
adoption Of such measures or such a
warning Of danger to operate as in any
degree an abbreviation of the rights of
American ship masters or of American
citizens bound on lawful errands as pas
sonGers on merchant ships of belligerelt
nationality; and that it must hold tho
Imperial German government to strict
accountability for any infringement Of
those rights. intentional or incidental
II does not understand the imperial Ger
man government TO question those rights
1t assumes, on the contrary. that the
Imperial government accept, as. of course,
the rule that the lives of non-combatants,
whether they be Of neutral citizenship
or citizens Of one of the nations at war,
can not lawfully or rightfully be put in
jeopardy by the capture or destruction
OF an unarmed merchantmen and
recognize also, as all other nations Go,