The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-19
NOT AN ULTIMATUM
New Note to Germany Firmly
Insists on the American
Rights at Sea.
DECLARES HUMANITY is FIRST
That Principle Must Overshadow All
Other Ordinary Subjects, Presi-
dent Tells Berlin Government.

Washington.-The United States, in
its latest note to Germany just made
public, formally asks the imperial
government for assurances that meas
ures hereafter will be adopted to safe
guard American lives and American
ships" on the high seas. The alterna-
tive in case of refusal is not stated.
1t was this note to which William
Jennings Bryan refused to attach his
signature, resigning instead his port
folio of Secretary of State, and there
by precipitating a dramatic Cabinet
crisis. Robert Lansing, Secretary of
State ad interim, signed the commun-
ication which went forth with the ap-
prevail of President Wilson and his
entire Cabinet.
Note PIeases Officials.
The communication informs Ger
many that it is "on the principle of
humanity as well as upon law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand" Opportunity is
given to Germany to submit any evil
dence that American officials did not
execute their tasks thoroughly in in
specting the Lusitania before she
sailed, but the cardinal fact-that the
liner was given no warning and made
no resistance and was primarily pas
senger ship-the American govern
ment declares throws Into the back
ground any special circumstances of
detail and lifts the case "out of the
class of ordinary subjects of diplo-
matte discussion or of international
controversy"
The Text of the Note.
The text of the American rejoinder
to the German governments reply to
the note following the sinking of the
Lusatania follows:
"The Secretary of State ad interim
to the American ambassador to Ber-
lin:
American Ami assador, Berlin
You are instructed to deliver textual-
ly the following note to the minister
of foreign affairs:
In compliance with your excel
lency's request, 1 did not fail to trans
nit to my government, Immediately
upon their receipt, your note of May
%, in reply to my note of May Is, and
your supplementary note OF June 1,
setting forth the conclusions so far as
reached by the imperial German gov
eminent concerning the attacks on the
American steamers Cushing and Gull
fight. l am now instructed by my
government to communicate the fol
lowing in reply:
The government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government, in discussing the cases
of the Cushing and the Gulfight, OF
the principle of the freedom of all
parts of the open sea to neutral ships
and the frank willingness of the I'm
periaI German government to &C
knowledge and meet its liability where
the fact of attack upon neutral ships
which have not been guilty OF any
hostile act by German aircraft OF
vessels of war is satisfactorily estab
hshed; and the government of the
United States will in due course lay
before the imperial German govern
ment, as it requests, full information
concerning the attack on the steamer
Cushing.
The FaIaba Case Different.
With regard to the sinking Of the
steamer Falaba, by which an Amer
lean citizen lost his life, the govern
ment of the United States is sur
prised to find the imperial German
government contending that an effor
on the part of a merchantmen to es
cape capture and secure assistance
alters the obligation of the office
seeking to make the capture in re
spect of the safety of the lives o
those on board the merchantmen, al
though the vessel has ceased her at
tempt to escape when torpedoed
These are not neF circumstances
They have been in the minds of states
men and of i International juristi
throughout the development of nava
warfare, and the government of thu
United States does not understand
that they have ever been held to alte
the principles Of humanity upol
which it has insisted. Nothing bu
actual forcible resistance or contin
ued efforts to escape by flight whel
ordered to stop for the purpose of visi
on the part of the merchantmen ha
ever been held to forfeit the lives o
her passengers or crew. The govern
ment of the United States, however
does not understand that the imperia
German government is seeking in thi