American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-05-20

x0c IuIl lcxL Ok IIooIucut WiibOu
note to the German government or
the sinking Of the Lusisania is al
follows:
Department Of State, Washington
May 10, 1915:
"The Secretary Of State to the Am.
erican Ambassador at Berlin:
please call on the minister OF for
eign affairs and after reading to him
this communication leave with him q
,opy.
"In view Of recent acts OF the Ger
man authorities In violation of Amerf-
can rights on the high seas, which cul-
minated in the torpedoing and sinking
Of the British steamship Lusitania on
May Z. 1915. by which over 100 Ameri-
can citizens lost their lives. II Is clear
~ wise and desirable that the govern
ment of the United States and the i'm
perial German government should
come to a clear and full understand
Ing as to the grave situation which
has resulted.
Viewed with Amusement
1.-THE sinking Of the British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by a German sub
marine on March 28, through which
Leon G. Thresher. an American citizen,
was drowned; the attack on April rs
on the American vessel Cushing by a
G.. m acceptance; the ~torpedoing on
May / OF the American vessel Gulflight
by a German submarine. as a result
OF which two or more American citi-
sons met their death; and. finally, the
torpedoipg and sinking Of the steam
ship Lusitania, constitute a series Of
events which the government OF the
United States has observed with grow
ing concern, distress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed In mat
ters Of international right, and par
ticularly with regard to the freedom
OF the seas; having learned to recog-
nise the German views and the Ger
man influence In the field OF inter-
national obligation as always engaged
upon the side OF justice and humanity,
and having understood the instructions
Of the imperial German government to
lts naval commanders to be upon the
same plane OF humane action prescrib-
ed by the naval codes OF other nations,
the government OF the United States
was loath to believe-it can not
bring itself TO b~elieve-that these acts,
30 absolutely contrary to the rules, the
practices and the spirit OF modern war
fare, could have the c~ountenance or
sanction OF that great government.
Expects Action by Germany.
ut feels II to be its duty. therefore,
10 address the imperial German gov
eminent concerning them with the ut
most ~frankness and In the earnest hope
that Il Is not mistaken In expecting
action on the part OF the imperial
German government which will correct
the unfortunate impressions which
have been created and vindicate once
more the position of that government
with regard to the sacred freedom OF
the seas.
1.-THE government of the United
Staets has been appraised that the I'm
perial German government considered
themselves to be Obliged by the ex-
t%raordinary circumstances OF the pres
ent war, and the measures adopted by
their adversaries In seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods of retaliation which go
much beyond the ordinary methods OF
warfare at sea. In the proclamation OF
a war one from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
Puts II Up 10 Germany.
"This government has already taken
occasion TO inform the imperial Ger
man government that Il can n admit
the adoption OF such measures or such
a warning OF danger TO operate as In
any degree AN abbreviation of the
rights OF American shipmasters or Of
American citizens bound on lawful
errands az passengers or merchant
ships OF b~elligerent nationality and
that II must hold the imperial German
government TO n strict accountability
for any infringement of those rights,
Intentional or incidental. IL does not
understand the imperial German gov
eminent to question those rights. II
assumes, on the contrary. that the Inn
perial German government accepts, of
course. the rule that the lives OF non
combatants. whether they be OF neutral
citizenship or citizens OF any OF the
nations at war, cannot lawfully or
rightfully be put In jeopardy by the
capture or destruction OF an unarmed
merchantmen. and recognizes also, as
all other nations do. the obligations to
take the usual precaution of visit and
search to ascertain whether n 3
pected merchantmen Is In fact OF bel
hfgerent nationality or Is In fact carry
Ing ~contraband OF war under "A neutral
nag.
Must Disregard the Rules
THE government of the United
States, therefore. desires 10 cali the
attention OF the imperial German gov-
eminent with the utmost ~earnestness
TO the fact that the objection TO their
present method OF attack against the
trade OF their enemies lies In the prac-
teal impossibility OF employing sub
marines In the destruction OF COM
merce without disregarding these rules
OF fairness. reason, justice and hui
manity. which all modern opinion re-
CARDS as imperative. II In practical
iy impossible for the officers OF a sub
marine to visit a merchantmen at seu
n examine her papers and cargo. II
~ practically impossible for them &c
make a prize OF her. and II they can
not put a prize crew on board on her
they cannot sink her without leaving