Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-11

States would have been bound to take
official cognizance in performing its rec
ognized duty as a neutral power and in
enforcing it's national laws. 1t was it's
duty to see to 1t that the Lusitania was
not armed for offensive action; that she
was not serving as transport: that she
did not carry a cargo prohibited by the
statutes of the United States, and that,
If in fact she was naval vessel of
Great Britain, she should not receive
clearance as a merchantmen; and it per-
formed that duty and enforced it's stat
utes with scrupulous vigilance through
it's regularly constituted officials. 1t is
able. therefore. to assure the imperial
German government that it has been
misinformed. If the imperial German
government should deem itself to be in
possession of convincing evidence that
the officials OF the government of the
United States did not perform these du-
ties with thoroughness, the government
Of the United States sincerely hopes
that it will submit that evidence for
consideration.
Contentious Irrelevant
"Whatever may be the contentious of
the Imperial German government re-
garding the carriage of contraband OF
war on board the Lusitania or regard
ing the explosion of that material by
the torpedo, it need only be said that
in the view Of this government, these
contentious are irrelevent to the ques-
ton of the legality Of the methods used
by the German naval authorities in
sinking the vessel.
But the sinking passenger ships in
wolves principles of humanity which
thrown into the background any spe-
cial circumstances Of detail that may
be though to affect the cases. principles
which lift it as the Imperial German
government will no doubt be quick to
recognize and acknowledge, out Of the
class Of ordinary subjects Of diplomat
ic 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 passen-
gers, and carrying more than a thou
sand souls who had no part or lot in
the conduct of the war, was torpedoed
and sunk without 50 much as chal-
| ACA6C "a q wal AAI6s anu tudI AiCAAs W.
men and children were sent to their
death in circumstances unparalleled in
modern warfare. The fact that more
than 100 American citizens were among
those who persisted made it the duty
Of the United States to speak Of these
things and once more with solemn en-
phasis to call the attention Of the Inn
perial German government to the grave
responsibility which the government Of
the United States conceives that 1t
has incurred in this tragic occurrence
and to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests
U. S. Responsibility
1.-THE government Of the United States
is contending for something much
greater than mere rights Of property or
privileges Of commerce. It is contend
ing for nothing less high and sacred
than the rights Of humanity. which
every government honors itself In re-
specttng In which NO government is
justified In resigning ON behalf Of those
under it, care and authority. Only her
actual resistance to capture or refusal
to stop when ordered to do so for the
purpose of vislt couM have afforded
81 -. enc,