Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-05-19

FUN Text Of Historical Document OF
Sinking Of the Lusitania.

4
Following is the full taxi Of the note
sent by this country TO Germany last week
| as the result OF the sinking OF the steam
| ship Lusitania By German submarine,
with the loss OF more than 100 American
lives. Germany's reply Is not expected
| before the last Of this week. On the ma
ture OF this reply depends the future
! diplomatic relations Of the United States
ard Germany.
department of State. Washington, May
| IS, 1915.
"The secretary OF state'to the American
| AMBASSADOR at Berlin:
| "Please call on the minister OF foreign
Affairs and after reading to him this
communication leave with him . copy.
ain view OF recent acts OF the German
authorities in violation Of American
rights on the high seas, which eliminated
in the torpedoinR and sinking OF the
British steamship Lusitania on May Z,
1915, by " hich over 100 American citizens
lost their lives, 1t il clearly wise and de-
| sirable that the government Of the United
States and the Imperial German govern
ment should come to . clear and full
understanding ~ TO the grave situation
which has resulted.
LIST OF ryc1pxyTs.
.The sinking OF the British passenger
steamer fslAba by q German submarine
on March ., through which Leon c.
Thresher. an American citizen, was
drowned; the attack on April . on the
American vessel Cushing by German
aeroplane; the torpedoing on May l OF
the American vessel Gulfiight by . Ger
man submarine, - . result OF which two
or more American citizens met their
death; and, finally the toEpedoing and
sinking Of the stesmship Lusitania, con-
eminent Of the United States hes observed
with growing concern, distress and
amusement.
SUGGESTS MISUNDERSTANDING.
tRecalling the humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by the Imperial
German government in matters OF inter-
national right, and particularly with re-
gard to the freedom Of the seas; having
! learned to recognize the German views
and the German influence In the field Of
international obligation ~ always en-
gagged upon the side OF justice and human
ity, and having understood the instruc-
lions OF the Imperial German government
| to its naval commanders to be upon the
same plane OF humane action prescribed
| by the naval codes OF other nations, the
government Of the United States was
ioath to believe - it cannot now bring it.
self to believe that these acts, 80 abso-
Iuteiy contrary to the rules, the practices
and the spirit OF modern warfare, could
have the countenance or sanction OF that
great government. 1t feels ii to be its
duty, therefore, to address the Imperial
German government concerning them
with the utmost frankness and in the
earnest hope that it is not mistaken in ex-
pecting 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.
STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY.
"The government OF the United States
has been apprised that the Imperial
German government considered them
selves to be obliged by the extraordinary
circumstances OF the present war and the
measures adopted by their adverssries in
seeking to cut Germany OF from all COM
merce, to adopt methods OF retaliation
which 60 much beyond the ordinary
methods OF warfare at sea, in the prociama-
ton OF a war zone from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away. This
government has already taken occasion to
inform the Imperial German government
that it cannot admit the adoption of such
measures or such 9 warning OF danger to
operate a. in any degree an abbreviation
OF the right OF American shipmasters or OF
American citizens bound on lawful errands
as passengers on merchant ships OF
belligerent nationality, and that it must
hold the Imperial German government to
q strict accounts iiity for any infringe
ment Of those rights, intentional or in
cidental. II does not understand the I'm
perish German government to question
those rights. Ii assumes, on the contrary,
that the Imperial government accepts, as
Of course, the rule that the lives of nom
com batants, whether they be Of neutral
citizenship or citizens of one OF the nations
at war, can not lawfully or rightfuliy be
put in jeopardy By the capture or destruc-
tion OF an unarmed merchantmen, and
recognize also, as all other nations do, the
obligation to take the usual precautien of
visit and search TO ascertain whether a
suspected merchantmen is in fact OF
belligerent nationality or is in fact carry
ing cohtraband of war under . neutral
| flag.
DEGREES USING SUBMARINES
"The government of the United States,
therefore, desires to call the attention Of
the Imperial German government with
; b..