Connecticut western news., 1915-06-17
RElTERATE:S ON GERMANY

| man government that it has been mis- informed. If the imperial German gov ernment should deem itself to Dc in possession of convincing evidence that the officials of the government of tlP l United States did not perform these | duties with thOrOughneSS. the govern ment of the United States sincerely hopes that it will submit that evidence for consideration.
 "Whatever may be the intentions of the imperial German government re- garding the carriage of contraband of war on board the LuSitania or regard l ing the explosion of that material by the torpedo. it need only be said that In , the view of this government tl.eSe con- i tentiOnS are irrelevant to the question of the legality of the methods used by the German naval authorities in sink | ing the vessel.
 But the sinking of passenger ships involves principles of humanity which throw into the background any special rircumstant es of detaii that may be thought to affect the cases. principles whi h lift it. as the imperial German government will no doubt be quick 10 reco~nize and acknowledge. out of the claSs of ordinary subjects of diplomatic i diScuSsion or of international cOntro- versy. Whatever be the other facts re- garding the LuSitania. the principal fact is that a great steamer primarily and chiefly a conveyance for paSsPn gers and carving more than a thou lot T,, the conduct of the war was tOrpedOed and sunk without SD much as chHi. lenge or warning and that men. women and children were sent to their death in circumstances unparalleled in mod ern warfare. The fact that more than 100 American citizens were among those who perished mado it the duty of the government of the United States to speak of these things and once more. with solemn emphasis, to call the at tention of the imperial German govern ment to the grave responsibilities which the government of the United States cOnceivcs that it has incurred in this tragical occurrence and to the in disputable principle upon which that responsibility rests.
 Contends For Humanity Rights.
 "The government of the United States is contending for something much greater than mere rights of prop erty or privileges of commerce. It Is contending for nothing less high and sacred than the rights of humanity, which every government honOrs itS"G i'm, ioI, is justified in resigning on behalf 0f those under it's care and authority Only her actual resistance to capture or refusal to stop when ordered to do so for the purpose of visit could have afforded the commander of the subma- rine any justification for so much as putting the lives of those on board thn ship in jeopardy.
 "This principle the government of the United States understands the explicit instructions issued on Aug. 3, 1914. by the imperial German admiralty to it's commanders at sea to have recognized and embodied. as do the naval codes of all other nations. and upon it every traveller and seaman has right to de pend. It is upon this principle of hu- manity as well as upon the law found ed upon this principle that the United States must stand.
 ''Tha government of the United States is happy to observe that your excel lency's note closes with the intimation that the imperial German government is willing. now as before. to accept the good offices of the United States in an attempt to come to an understanding with the government of Great Britain by which the character and conditions of the war upon the sea may be chang ed The government of the United States would consider it a privilege thus to serve its friends and the world It stands ready at any time to convey to either government any intimatiOns or suggestions the other may be willing to have it convey and cordially invites the imperial German government to make use of its services in this way ar it's convenience. The whole world is 1 concerned in anything that may bring about even a partial accommodation of interests or in any way mitigate the terrors of the present distressing con flict.
 'In the meantime whatever arrange. ment may happily be made between the parties to the war and whatever may in the opinion O. the imperial Ger man government have been the provo cation or the circumstantial justifica tion for the past acts of its command CTS at sea the government of the Unit ed States confidently looks to see the justice and humanity of the govern ment of Germany vindicated in all cases where Americans have been wroGged or their rights as neutrals invaded.
 SoemnIy Renews Note.
 s'The government of the United States therefore very earnestly and very solemnly renews the representa- tions of its note transmitted to the i'm perial German government on the 10th of Msy and relies on these representa- tions on the principles of humanity. the universally recognized understandings