Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-06-18

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Robert Lansing, acting secretary Of
state, signed the second American note
to Germany.
than the rights of humanity. which
every government honors itself in re.
speeding and which no government 10
justified in resigning on behalf of those
under its care and authority.
Lusitania Attack Unjustif1ed.
Only her actual resistance to cap
ture or refusal to stop when ordered
to do so for the purpose of visit could
have afforded the commander of the
submarine any justification for so
much as putting the lives of those on
board the ship in jeopardy. This prin.
ciple, the government of the United
States understands, the explicit in
structions issued on August 3, 1914,
by the Imperial German admiralty to
its commanders at sea, to have recog-
nized and embodied, as do the naval
codes of all other nations, and upon it
every traveller and seaman had q right
to depend. 1t is upon this principle of
humanity as we'll as upon the law
founded upon this principle that the
United States must stand.
U. S. Would Serve World.
THE government of the United
States is happy to observe that your
eXcellency's note closes with the in
timation 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 govern
ment of Great Britain by which the
character and conditions of the war
upon the sea may be changed. The
government of the United States would
consider it a privilege thus to serve
It's friends and the world. It stands
ready at any time to convey to either
government any intimation or sugges-
! ton the other may be willing to have
it convey and cordially invites the inn
perial German government to mako
use of it's services in this way at It's
convenience. The whole world is
concerned in anything that may bring
about even a partial accommodation
of interests or in any way mitigate
the terrors of the present distressing
conflict.
Vindlcation Of Justice Expected.
I'm the meantime, whatever ar.
rangement may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war, and
whatever may in the opinion Of the
imperial German government have
been the provocation or the circum-
stantial justification for the past acts
of its commanders at sea, the govern
ment of the United States confidently
looks to see the justice and humanity
of the government of Germany vindi-
Gated in all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
neutrals invaded.
"The government of the United
States therefore earnestly and very
solemnly renews the representations
of its note transmitted to the imperial
German government on the 18th of
May, and relies in these representa-
lions upon the principles of humanity.
the universally recognized under
standings Of international law and the
ancient friendship of the German ma,
ton.
American Rights Upheld.
The government Of the United
States cannot admit that the proclama.
tton of war zone from which neu.
trail ships have been warned to keen
away may be made to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation Of the
rights either of American shipmasters
or of American citizens bound on law.
full errands as passengers on merchant
ships Of belligerent nationality. Il
does not understand the imperial Ger
!. man government to question those
rights. 1t understands it, also, to &C
: cept, as established beyond question
: the principle that the lives of non
combatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the cap
= ture or destruction Of an unresistin,
merchantmen, and to recognize thu
obligation to take SUFFICIENT precautiol
8 to ascertain whether suspected mer
. chairman is in fact of belligerent M
II tionality or is in fact carrying contra
a band Of war under neutral flag. Tn,
l. government Of the United States there
+ fore deems It reasonable to expect tina
the imperial German government vii
d adopt the measure necessary to pu
n these principles into, practice in n
9 spect Of the safeguarding Of Amer.
Is can lives and American ships. an
t. asks for assurances that this VIM b
v done. .t
j. ROBERT LANSING.
al Secretary Of state I'd interim.