The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-06-17

forfeit the lives of her passengers or
crew. The government of the United
States, however, does not understand
that the Imperial German government
is seeking in this case to relieve itself
of liability, but only intends to set
forth the circumstances which led the
commander of the submarine to allow
himself to be hurried into the course
which he took.
Speaking Of Guns.
Your Excellency's 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 Imperial
German government has received with
regard to the character and outfit Of
that vessel, and Your EXcellency eX-
presses the fear that this information
may not have been brought to the at
tention of the government of the Uni
ted States.
1T is stated in the note that the Lu-
sitania was undoubtedly equipped with
masked guns, supplied with trained
gunners and special ammunition, trans
porting troops from Canada, carrying
a cargo not permitted under the laws
of the United States to vessel also
carrying passengers, and serving, in
virtual effect, as an auxiliary to the
naval forces of Great Britain.
Fortunately these are matters con-
corning which the government of the
United States is in position to give
the Imperial government official infor-
nation. Of the facts alleged in Your
Excellency's note, if true, the govern
ment of the United States would have
been bound to take official cognizance
in performing it's recognized duty as
neutral power and in enforcing its ma
tional laws.
1T was its duty to see to it that
the Lusitania was not armed for Of
fensive action, that she was not serv-
ing as transport; that she did not
carry a cargo prohibited by the
statutes of the United States and that
if, in fact, she was naval vessel of
Great Britain, she should not receive
clearance as a merchantman; and it
performed that duty and enforced its
statutes with scrupulous vigilance
throughout it's regularly constituted
officials.
Germany Misinformed.
"It is able. therefore, to assure the
Imperial German government that it
has been misinformed. If the Imperial
German government should deem it
self to be in possession of convincing
evidence that the officials of the gov
ernment of the United States did not
perform these duties with thorough
ness the government of the United
States sincerely hopes that it will sub
NIT that evidence for consideration.
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 tha
in the view of this government these
contentious are irrelevant to the Ques
ton Of the legality of the methods
used by the German naval authorities
in sinking the vessel.
But the sinking of passenger ships
involves principles of humanity which
throw into the background any spe
cial circumstances of detail that ma!
be thought to affect the cases, prin
ciples which lift it, as the Imperia
German government will no doubt b'
quick to recognize and acknowledge
out of the class of ordinary subjects
of diplomatic discussion or Of inter
national controversy.
Main Facts Of Case.
Whatever be the other facts regard
ing the Lusitania, the principal fact il
that a great steamer, primarily ant
) chiefly a conveyance for passengers
; and carrying more than 1000 souls
, who had no part or lot in the conduc