Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17

brought to the attention Of the United
States. /, is stated that the Lusitania
was undoubtedly equipped with masked
guns. supplied with trained gunners and
special ammunition, transporting troops
from Canada carrying a cargo not per-
mitted under the laws of the United
sengers, and serving, in virtual effect, as
an auxiliary to the naval forces OF Great
Britain. Fortunately these are matters
concerning which the government of the
United States is in a position to give the
imperial German government official in
forma ton OF the facts alleged in Your
EXcellencys note, II true, the government
Of the United States would have been
bound to take official cognizance in per-
forming its recognized duty as neutral
power and in enforcing its national laws.
II was its duty to see to it that the
Lustania was not armed for offensive
action; that she was not serving as a
transport, that she did not carry cargo
prohibited by the statutes of the United
States, and that. IL in fact she was a
naval vessel Of Great Britain. she should
not receive clearance as merchantmen
and il performed that duty and enforced
its statutes with scrupulous vigilance
through its regularly constituted officials,
1t is able, therefore. TO assure the i'm
perial German government that it has
been misinformed. If tho imperial Ger
man government should deem itself 10
he in possession of convincing evidence
that the officials Of the government of
the United States did not perform these
duties with thoroughness the government,
of the United States sincerely hopes that
it will submit that evidence for considera-
ton.
HUMANITY THE ISSUE.
whatever may be the contentious of
the imperial German government regard
Ing the carriage OF contraband of war on
board the Lusitania or regarding the ex-
plosion of that material by the torpedo,
It need only he said that In the view of
this government these contentious are ir-
relevant to the question OF the legality
Of the methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel.
But the sinking OF passenger ships In
wolves principles OF humanity which throw
into the background any special crcum-
stances Of detail that may be thought to
affect the cases, principles which lift It,
as tne imperial German government Will
no doubt be quick to recognize and &C
! knowledge, out OF the class of ordinary
subjects of diplomatic discussion or OF
! international controversy. Whatever be
the other facts regarding the Lusitania
the principal fact is that a great steamer
primarily and chiefly a conveyance for
passengers, and carrying more than A
thousand souls who had no part or lot r
the conduct of the war. was torpedoeG
and sunk without so much as a challenge
or warning. and that men, women ant
| children were sent to their deaths in cir
cumstances unpa rallelled In modern war
fare. The fact that more than 100 Amer
lean citizens were among those who per
ished made 1t the duty Of the government
OF the United states to speak Of thes,
things and once more. with solemn EN-
phasis. to call the attention OF the impe
rial German government to the grave re
sponsiblity which the goernment OF tn
United States conceives that II has in
CURED in this tragic occurrence. and 4
the indisputable principle upon which tina
responsibility rests. The government q
tho United States Is contending for some
: thing much greater than mere rights q
J. property or privileges OF commerce. 1t