The Ely miner., 1915-06-18

than the rights of humanity, which
every government honors itself in re-
specting and which no government is
justified in resigning on behalf OF those
under its care and authority.
Lusitana Attack Unjustified.
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
it's 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 a right
to depend. 1t is upon this principle Of
humanity as well 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 tie 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. 1t stands
ready at any time to convey to either
government any intimation or sugges
! tion the other may be willing TO have
it convey and cordially invites the i'm
perial German government to make
use of it's services in this way at its
convenience. The whole world il
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.
vindication of Justice Expected.
in the meantime, whatever ar
rangement may happily be made be
| tween the parties to she war, ant
whatever may in the opinion of tht
imperial German government have
| been the provocation or the circum
stantial justification for the past act
! of its commanders at sea, the govern
ment of the United States confidentl,
| looks to see the justice and humanit.
| of the government of Germany yindi
| Gated in all cases where American
have been wronged or their rights a
neutrals invaded.
"The government of the Unite
States therefore earnestly and yer
solemnly renews the representation
of its note transmitted to the fmperia
German government on the 10Th @
May, and relies in these representa-
tions upon the principles of humanity
the universally recognized under
standings of international law and tn
ancient friendship of the German NJ
ton.
American Rights Upheld.
"The government Of the Unite
States cannot admit that the proclaim,
tion of a war zone from which ne,
trail ships have been warned to kee
away may be made to operate as
any degree an abbreviation Of th
rights either Of American shipmaster
or Of American citizens bound on Law
full errands as passengers on mercha1
, ships Of belligerent nationality.
. does not understand the imperial Ge
man government to question thos
/ rights. It understands it, also, to a
: cept, as established beyond question
: the principle that the lives Of no
combatants cannot lawfully or righ
fully be put in jeopardy by the ca
ture or destruction Of an unresistir
: merchantmen, and to recognize II
? obligation to take sufficient precautic
) to ascertain whether suspected me
2 chairman is In fact Of belligerent q
l tionality or is In fact carrying contr
4 band of war under a neutral flag tt
+ government of the United States ther
: fore deems it reasonable to expect tn
l. the imperial German government W
d adopt the measure necessary to p
u these principles into practice in I
e spect of the safeguarding of Ame
S can lives and American ships, al
t. asks for assurances that this will
r done.
l. ROBERT LANSING,
d Secretary Of State ad interim" :"