The Elbert County tribune., 1915-06-18
ASS RANGES ASKED THAT
AMERICAN LIVES AND AMER
icAN SHIPS" WILL BE
SAFEGUARDEO.
FULL TEXT OF MESSAGE
roRPEOoING OF LUSITANlA DE-
CIARED OUT OF ORDINARY
CLASS OF SUBJECTS FOR
DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSION.
w..lsrn Newapapsf Union New. s.rsLe.

Washington. June 11.-Following is
the full text OF President Wilson's sec
ond note sent to Germany.
The secretary of state ad interim tc
the American ambassador at Berlin
Department OF State, Washington
June 8, 1915.
American Ambassador, Berlin: You
are instructed to deliver teXuually the
following note TO the minister OF for
eign affairs:
in compliance with your excellency' s
request, / did not fail to transmit to
my government Immediately upon the
receipt OF your note OF May 2S in re-
ply TO my note OF May 15, and your
supplementary note of June L. setting
forth the conclusions so far as reached
by the imperial German government
concerning the attacks on the Amer
lean steamers Cushing and Outright.
l am now instructed by my govern
ment to communicate the following in
reply.
Principle in GuifIight Case.
The government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government, in discussing the cases OF
the Gushing and the Gulflight, of the
principle OF the freedom OF all parts
OF the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness OF the imperial
government to acknowledge and meet
its liability where the fact of attack
upon neutral ships which have not
been guilty of any hostile act by Ger.
man aircrafts or vessels of war is sat
isfactorily established; and the gov
ernment of the United States will in
lax hnf ali ft,,t rfn Cat
man government. as 1t requests, full
Information concerning the attack on
the steamer Gushing.
With regard to the sinking OF the
steamer Fslaba by which an American
citizen lost his lite. the government of
the United States is surprised to find
the iHperiak German government con
tending that an effort on the part OF
the merchantmen to escape capture
aud secure assistance alters the obli-
cation OF the officer seeking to make
the capture in respect OF the safety
OF the lives of those on board the
merchantman. although the vessel has
ceased her attempt to escape when
torpedoed
These are not new circumstances.
They have been in the minds of
throughout the naval warfare and the
go,einment of the United States does
aot understand that they nave ever
i,een held to alter. the principles of hu
taanity upon which it has insisted.
Nothing but actual. forcibie resist
ance or continued efforts to escape by
flight when ordered to stop for the
purpose of visit on the part of the
merchantman has ever been held to
forfeit the lives of her passengers OF
crew.
The government of the United
States, however, does not understand
that tho imperial German government
is seeking in this case to relieve it's
self Of liability. but only intends tc
set forth the circumstances which led
the commander OF the submarine te
allow himself to be hurried into the
course which he took
Your exceHency's note. in discussing
the loss of American lives resulting
from the sinking of the steamship Lu
sitania. adverts at some length to Ger
tain information which the imperia
German government has received will
regard to the character and outfit o
that vessel and your excellency ex
presses the fear that this information
may not have been brought to tn
attention of the government of th
United States.
1t is stated in the note that tn
Lusitania was undoubtedly equippe,
with masked guns. supplied witt
trained gunners and special ammuni
tion transporting troops from Canada
carrying cargo not permitted unde
the laws of the United States to a yes
sci also carrying passengers, and serv
ing, in virtual effect, as an auxiliar
to the naval forces of Great Britain
Information Held by America.
Fortunately. these are matters cor
cerning which the government OF tn
United States is in position to Civ
the imperial German government OF
ficiai information.
or the facts alleged In your excel
lency's note. IL true. the government
of the United States would have beel
bound to take official cognizance Il
performing its recognized duty as
neutral power and in enforcing It
national laws.
It was its duty to see to 1t that th,
Lusitauia was no. armed for offens
i've action: that she was not serving
as a transport; that she did not carr,
n. cargo, prohibited by the statutes o
the United States and that. il in fac
she was a naval vessel of Great Brit
ain she should not receive clearanc,
as nerchantman: and it performed
that duty and enforced its statutei
with scrupulous vigilance through it.
regularly constituted officials.
Submission of Evidence Suggested.
1t Is able. therefore. to assure the
imperial German government that Il
has been nisinformed. II the imperia
German government should deem its
self to be In possession of convincing
evidence that the officials of the gov
iprnment of the United States did moi
perform these duties with thorough
ness. the government of the United