The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-05-19
American Note Demands That Its Murderous Su
marine Attacks Must Cease.
President viii Omit No Word Or Act Necessary To Main.
tain Rights OF Citizens Of This Country To Travel
On Any Sea On Any Merchant Vessel.
IMMEDIATE STEPS TO STOP THE MENACE TO CITIZENSHIP


tation to the German Government
a note calling attention ITO the
grave situation which has resulted
from the violation of American
rights on the high seas, eliminating
in the sinking of the Lusitania with
a loss of more than 100 American
lives.
Full Text or American Note.
The full text of the note was
made public tonight by the state
Department, as follows;
Department of State, Washington,
May 10, 1915.
Secretary of State to American
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 the recent acts of
German authorities, in violation OF
American rights on the high seas,
which eliminated in the torpedoing
and sinking of the British steamship
Lusitania, May Z, 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 full
and clear understanding as to the
grave situation which has resulted.
THE sinking of the British pas
senger steamer Falaba by German
submarine March 2s, through which
Leon c. Thrasher, an American cit
izen, was drowned; the attack on
April 2S. on the American vessel
Gushing by a German aeroplane;
the torpedoing May !. of the Amer
lean vessel Gulhight by a German
submarine, as a result Of which two
or more American citizens met their
DEATH and, finally, the torpedoing
and sinking of the steamship Lusi-
tania, constitute a series of events
which the Government of the Unit
ed States has observed with grow
ing concern, distress and amaze
ment.
Recalling the humane and en-
lightened attitude hitherto assumed
by the Imperial German Govern
ment in matters of international
right, and particularly with regard
to the freedom of the seas, having
learned to recognize German views
and German influence in the field of
international obligation as always
engaged upon the side of justice
and humanity, and having under
stood the instructions of the I'm
perial German Government to its
naval commanders to be upon the
same plane of humane action pre-
sevibed by naval codes of other ma
tons, the Government of the Unit
ed States was loath to believe-it
cannot now bring itself to believe
that these acts, so absolutely con-
trary to the rules. practices and
spirit of modern warfare, could have
countenance or sanction OF that
Government. 1t feels ii to be its
duty, therefore, to address the I'M
perial German Government concern
ing them with the utmost frankness
and in the earnest hope that II Is
not mistaken in expecting action on
the part of the German Government
which will correct unfortunate i'm
pressions which have been created
and vindicate once more the posi-
tion of that great Government with
regard to sacred freedom of the
seas.
THE Government of the United
States has been apprised that the
Imperial German Government con-
sidered themselves TO be Obliged by
extraordinary circumstances of the
present war and measures adopted
by their adyersaries in seeking to cut
Germany on from all commerce, to
adopt methods of retaliation which
go much beyond ordinary methods
of warfare at sea, in the proclama-
ton OF war zone from which they
have warned neutral ships to keep
away. This Government has al
ready taken occasion TO inform the
Imperial German Government that
IL cannot admit the adoption OF
such measures or such warning of
danger to operate as in any degree
an abbreviation Of the rights OF
American shipmasters or of Amer
lean citizens bound on lawful err
rands as passengers on merchant
ships OF belligerent nationality; and
that II must hold the Imperial Ger
man Government TO a strict account
ability for any infringement of