The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-06-11

tut attfttaft o. etait 10 interim
10 the American Ambassador az Bers
Inns
Department Of safe. washington.
June >. 1915.
American Ambassador, Berlin.
"You are instructed 10 deliver text
luoily the following note 20 the min.
lister of foreign armrs;
In compliance with your excel.
lcncy's request. I did not fail 10 trans
mit 20 my government Immediately
upon their receipt your note OF May
rs. and your supplementary note OF
: June 4. setting forth the conclusions
az reached by the imperial German
government concerning the stack on
the American steamers Gushing and
Guihlghi. 4 am y instructed by
my government 20 communicate the
following reply;
The government OF the United
stotes notes with qualification the
full recognition 81 the imperial gov
eminent. In discussing the cases OF
the Cushing and Gulhight, of the
principle OF the freedom Of an parts
OF the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness Of the imperial
government to acknowledge and meet
its liability where the fast OF attack
upon neutral ships which have not
been guilty Of any hostile act. by
German DIR crafts or vessels OF war
Is satisfactorily established and the
Government Of the United states will
In due course lay before the imperial
government, as u requests. full infcr-
nation concerning the attack on the
steamer CUSHING.
with regard to the sinking OF the
steamer Falaba. by which an Amerl-
can citizen Lost his life. the Severn
ment OF the United States Is surprised
10 find the German imperial govern
ment contending that an effort on the
part OF the merchantman To escape
capture and secure assistance alters
the obligation Of the officer seeking TO
make the capture In respect Of the
safety Of the lives 81 those on board
the merchantmen, althouEh the V=1-
sci had ceased her attempt to escape
when torpedoed. These are not new
circumstances. They have been In
the minds Of statesmen and OF inter-
4 national iurists throughout the naval
warfare and the government OF the
United States does not Understand
tina; they have ever been held TO alter
the principles Of humanity upon
which il has insisted. Nothing but
actual forclbie resistance or cOntin-
ued efforts to escape by flight when
ordered to stop for the purpose Of
visit on the part OF merchantmen has
ever been held 10 forfeit the lives OF
her passengers or crew. The gov
eminent OF the United States. how
ever does not understand that the i'm
perial German government n seeking
In this case 10 relieve itself Of linbil-
lty. but only intends 20 set forth the
circumstances which led the submar-
inc commander 90 allow himself 20
be hurried into the course which he
took.
Your excellency's note, In discus
sing the loss ~ American lives result
ing from the sinking ~ the steamship
lLusitnnln ndyerts az some leugth To
certain Information which the i'm
perial German government has re-
ceived with regard n the character
and OUTFIT Of that vessel and your eS-
iceliency expresses the fear that TINS
Information may not havo been
brought Ia the attention Of the gov
/ NIHlAfNN NA wv ANANM hAAhhHH
stated in the note that the Lusitahia
was undoubtedly equipped with
masked guns, supplied with trained
gupners N special ammunition
transporting troops from % o
carrying a cargo not permitted uhdeI
the laws Of the United states 10 u
neutral vessel also carrying passen-
gers. and serving. In virtual enect' a.
an auxiliary 10 the naval FORCES Oh
lGreat Britain. Fortunately theSe are
natters concerning which the oN-
/ ernment of the United States is IN a
position 20 give the imperial German
government official Information. Oh
the facts alleged in your eNceilency !
note. II true. the government ot the
United States would have Oeen u
10 take official Cogaizance In per-
forming its recognized duty as a neu-
trial power and DO enforcing its ma
Itional laws. II was Us Outs To see "a
lit that the Lusitunia was not armed
for offensive action, h q she was MOI
serving ms a transport, that she dio
not carry "a cargo prohibited by the
statutes or the United states and ma
81 I'M fact she was a naval vessel col
ilGreat Britain she should not receive
o. clearance as u morchnntman; ana u
! performed that duty and enforced l'
b statutes with scrupulOus Vgilanc'
. Through its regularly constituted ON
F. cluls. II Is able. therefore, 90 assure
the imperial German ~sovern"'n.
iIthat ID has been misinformed. J.
sltho imperial German governuitn'
. should deem itself 90 bee In possession
lof convincing evidence that the ON
cimls of the United States did not per
form these duties With horoushhea
the government of the United stare
sincerely hopes that II VIII supIh'
D that evidence for consideration.
Whatever may De the contentloh'
Of the imperial Germaa sovefnneh'
regarding the oarriage OF c~ontrahan'
of war on board the Lusitania or re-
garding the explosion Of that matefin
BIS the torpedo. IL need only be s'l'
, that In view OF this government thes'
contentious are Irrelevant TO the cues
tlon Of the legality Of the method
I used by the German naval a~uthorlue'
! lin sinking that vessel.
"Bht the sinking Of PASSENGER Hhip'
Involves principles OF humanity Whict
= throw into the o~ackground any sprela
! circumstance of detail that may Do
Thought 90 affect the cases. pfineiple'
which ma IL, as the imperial govern
100