The Yale expositor., 1915-06-17
BERLIN PAPERS BELIEVE WAY Is
OPENED FOR PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT.
KAISER MAY DRAFT REPLY
important Paragraphs In Second Com.
municatlon On Loss of Ameri-
can Lives In Sinking of
Lusitania.

Berlin-President Wilson's second
note on the sinking of the Lusitania
has been received here with a friend.
| ly spirit.
1t is accepted that Emperor William
himself will have much to do with
the framing of the German reply.
Though there is no confirmation
from Official sources, the fact that
the full text of the American rejoind-
er was rushed to the emperor at all
possible speed is taken to mean that
he intends TO play very important
part in the drafting of Germany's an
swer
The official viewpoint probably Gu
be correctly appraised only after con-
ferences of the imperial chancellor,
DR.. Won Bethmann-Holleweg; the for
eign secretary, Herr Won Jagow, and
representatives Of the army and ad-
miralty, the naval and general stan.
The emperor, it is believed, will speak
the final word.
The answer will certainly not be
policy probably will not be definitely
decided upon, before DR.. Meyer-Ger-
hard, Ambassador Bernstorff's special
envoy from Washington, has arrived
and made his report.
Both the Lokal Anzeiger and the
Vossische Zeitung hail the second Am
erican note as opening the way for
further negotiations between Germany
and the United States, which both
profess to believe will straighten out
the situation.
The important paragraph in the Am
erican note which relate to the Lusi-
tania follow:
Your excellencys note in discuss
ing the loss of American lives result
ing from the sinking of the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length TO
certain information which the i'm
perial German government has receiv-
ed with regard TO the character and
outfit of that vessel, and your excel
lency expresses the fear that this in
formation may not have been brought
to the attention of the government Of
the United States.
1T is stated in the note that equip
ped with masked guns, supplied
with trained gunners and special
ammunition, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying a cargo not permit
ted under the laws of the United
States to a vessel also carrying pas
sengers, and serving, in virtual effect,
as an auxiliary to the naval forces
Of Drift ain talu
are matters concerning which the gov
eminent of the United States is in a
position to give the imperial German
government officials information.
American Law Was Observed.
"Of the facts alleged in your ex-
cellency's note, if true the govern
ment of the United States would have
been bound to take official cognizance
in performing its recognized duty as a
neutral power and in enforcing it's
national laws. 1t was its duty to see
to it that the Lusitania was not armed
for offensive action, that she was not
serving as a transport, that she did
not carry a cargo prohibited by the
statutes of the United States and that
If in fact, she was a naval vessel of
clearance as a merchantmen, and it
performed that duty and enforced its
statutes with scrupulous viligance
through its regularly constituted Off
Gals.
ut is able therefore, to assure the
imperial German government that it
has been misinformed.
"If the imperial German government
L.
OF convincing evidence that the Off
Gals of the government of the United
States did not perform these duties
with thoroughness, the government Of
the United States sincerely hopes that
IL will submit that evidence for con-
sideration.
Whatever may be the contentious
of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage of contraband
of war on board the Lusitania or re-
garding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo it need only be said
that in the view Of this government
these contentious are prevalent to
the question of the legality of the
methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel.
Rights Of Humanity Supreme.
whatever be the other facts re-
garding the Lusitania, the principal
fact is that a great steamer, primari-
ly and chiefly a conveyance for pas
sengers and carrying more than a
thousand souls who had no part or lot
in the conduct OF the war, was tor
pedoed and sunk without so much as
a challenge OF warning. and that
men, women and children we're sent