The Ely miner., 1915-06-18

the United States. 1t is stated In the
note that the Lusitanaf was undoubted-
ly equipped with masked guns supplied
with trained gunners and special am
munition, transporting troops from
Canada. carrying cargo not permitted
under the laws of the United States
to a vessel also carrying passengers,
and serving, in virtual effect, as an
auxiliary to the naval force of Great
Britain Fortunately these are matters
concerning which the government Of
the United States is in a position to
give the Imperial German government
official information.
Lusitania Declared Unarmed.
"Of the facts alleged in your excel
lency's note, if true, the government
of the United States would have been
bound to take official cognizance in
performing it's recognized duty as a
neutral power and in enforcing its ma
tional laws. 1t was it's duty to see
to 1t that the Lusitania was not armed
for offensive action, that she was not
serving as transport, that she did not
| carry a cargo prohibited by the sta
tutes of the United States and that, if
! in fact she was naval vessel Of Great
Britain, she should not receive clear
| ance as a merchantman; and it per-
formed that duty and enforced its
statutes with scrupulous vigilance
| through it's regularly constituted Off
cialS. It is able, therefore, to assure
| the Imperial German government that
| it has been misinformed. If the I'M
| perial German government should
deem itself to be in possession of con-
vincing evidence that the officials OF
| the government of the United States
| did not perform these duties with thor
oughness the government Of the Unit
| ed States sincerely hopes that it will
submit that evidence for consideration
German Contentious Irrelevant.
Whatever may be the contentious
of the Imperial German government re
garding the carriage of contraband OF
war on board the Lusitania or regard
ing the explosion of that material by
the torpedo, it need only be said thai
In the view of this government these
contentious are irrelevant to the ques
ton of legality of the methods USED
by the German naval authorities IL
sinking the vessel.
But the sinking of the passenger
ships involves principles of humanity
which throw into the background any
special circumstances Of detail tha
| ha thA,, IN Of ho
principles which lift it, as the Impe
rial German government will no doub
be quick to recognize and acknowl
edge, out Of the class Of ordinary sub
jects Of diplomatic discussion or of in
ternational controversy. Whatever b.
, the other facts regarding the Lusi
tania, the principal fact is that grea
: steamer, primarily and chiefly a cor
! veyance for passengers and carrying
| more than q thousand souls who ha
, no part or lot in the conduct of tn
, war, was torpedoed and sunk withou
} so much as challenge or a warning
r and that men. women and childre
r were sent to their death in circun
I stances unparalleled in modern wal
5 fare.
: With Solemn Emphasis.
5 "The fact that more than one hun
dred American citizens were anon
+ those who perished made It the dut
( Of the government Of the United State
e to speak of these things and ono
:. more, with solemn emphasis, to ca
the attention Of the Imperial Germa
s. government to the grave responsible
J. ity which the government of the Uni
l. ed States conceives that 1t has il
h Cured In this tragic occurrence, an
l. to the indisputable principle upo
y which that responsibility rests. Tt
d government Of the United States
J. contending for something much grea
l. er than mere rights Of property I
It privileges Of commerce. 1t is conten
If ing for nothing less high and sacrs
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