The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-14
WILSON CAUTIONS
germany IN Note



ment of the United States and the I'm
perial German government should come
to clear and full understanding as
to the grave situation which has re-
suited.
1.-The sinking of the British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by German sub
marine on March 2S, through which
Leon c. Thrasher, an American citizen,
was drowned; the attack ON April 2S
on the American vessel Gushing by a
German acceptance; the torpedoing on
May of the American vessel Gulhight
by q German submarine, as a result of
which two or more American citizens
met their death; and, finally, the tor
pedoing and sinking of the steamship
Lusitania, constitute series of events
which the Government of the United
States has observed with growing con-
cern, distress and amazemcnt.
Contrary to Rules of Warfare
"Recalling the humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed by the
Imperial German government in mat
ters of international right, aud particu-
larly with regard to the freedom of the
SEAS having learned to recognize the
German views and the German influence
in the field of International obligation
as always engaged upon the side of JUS
tice and humanity; and having under
stood the instructions of the Imperial
German government to its naval com
manders 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 to be-
lieve--it cannot now bring itself to be-
fieve-that these acts, so absolutely
contrary to the rules, the practices and
the spirit of modern warfare, could
have the eountenance or sanction of
that great government. 1t feels it to be
i its duty, therefore, to address the I'm
| lerial German government concerning
them with the utmost frankness and in
the earnest hope that it is not mis-
taken in expecting action on the part
of the Imperial German government
which will correct the unfortunate i'm
pressions which have been created and
vindicate once more the position of that
government with regard to the sacred
| freedom of the seas.
Strict Accountability Stands
"The Government of the United
States has been apprised that the I'M
| perial German government considered
| themselves to be obliged by the extra
| ordinary 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 retaliation which go much beyond
| the ordinary methods of warfare at
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 government that
it cannot admit the adoption of such
measures or such warning of danger
| to operate as in any degree an aibbre-
Walton of the rights of American ship
masters or of American citizens bound
on lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships of belligerent nationality
and that it must hold the Imperial
! German government to a strict accoun-
| liability for any infringement of those
rights, intentional or incidental 1t
, 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
-combatants, whether they be of
nentral citizenship or citizens of one
of the nations at war, cannot lawfully
or rightfully be put in jeopardy by
| the capture or destruction of Ian un.
armed merchantmen, and recognize also
as all other nations do, the obligation tC
take the usual precaution of visit and
search to ascertain whether a suspected
merchantmen is in fact of belligerent
nationality or is in fact carrying con.
traIband of war under neutral flag.
Principle of Humanity Violated
"The government of the United
States therefore desires to call the at
tention of the imperial German govern
ment, with the utmost earnestness. tC
the fact that the objection to their
present method of attack against the
trade of their enemies lies in the prac
teal impossibility of employing sub
marines in the destruction of commerce
without disregarding those rules OF
fairness, reason, justice and humanity
which all modern opinion regards as i'm
perative 1t is practically impossible
for the officers of submarine to visit