The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-05-22
Note of Protest Against Killing
of Citizens on High Seas
Sent by Washington
TO Berlin.
NO WAR WITH THEU. S.
5erIin's Reply to Presidents Note
UnofheiaIIy Forecast BY the Ger
man EmDassy-can't Protect
Neutrals on Enemy Ships.

The United States government
has cabled Ambassador Gerard
for presentation to the German
government a note calling atten-
ton to the grave situation
which has resulted from viola
ton of American rights ON the
high seas, eliminating In the sink
ing of the Lusitania with a loss of
more than 100 American lives.
The communication expresses the
confident expectation of the United
States that the imperial German gov
eminent will disavow the acts Of
which the government of the United
States complains, that il will make
reparation, so far as PREPARATION is pos
sible, for injuries which are without
measure, and that it will take immedi-
ate steps to prevent the recurrence Of
anything SO obviously subversiEe of
the principles Of warfare for which
the imperial German government in
the past so wisely and so firmly con-
tended"
U. S. Stand Firm
In its conclusion the note states that
the imperial German government will
not expect the government Of the
United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance OF
its sacred duty Of maintaining the
rights Of the United States and its cit
liens and Of safeguarding their free
exercise and enjoyment
The note calls the attention Of the
German government to the desirable
ity OF full understanding between the
United States and Germany, in view
Of the situation arising from Teuton
acts eliminating in the sinking Of the
Lusitania, and declares that the neces-
stiles Of Germany occasioned by ext
gencies Of war cannot be allowed to
abbreviate rights of American citizens
bound on lawful errands on the high
seas
Dangers to non-combatants in sub
marine warfare against enemy COM
merce is pointed out, and Germany is
warned that American citizens act
within their rights when they board
commercial ships in pursuit Of legiti-
mate business and they can expect
their government to sustain them
Gernany's Point OF View.
Following the presentation TO the
newspapers of the American commune
cation to Germany, it became known
unoffcially that the German ambassa-
dor to this country has already re-
ceived information from Berlin about
the text of the reply to the American
note The reply is based, Of course,
on advance information about the
American note. Following is the gist
Of the ambassadors information:
Sentiments OF regret and tenders Of
apology are made, while at the same
time emphasis is laid upon the warn
ing issued which in German eyes
placed the risk squarely on those who
sailed on the ship.
Apology, reparation, but no guaran-
tee of the safety of Americans afioat
under beIligerent flags
The short precept upon which the
embassy is basing its conduct is divid-
ed into three parts. The first deals
with admonitions to America; the sec
ond, with disavowals of any hostile in
tent, and the third and most import
ant, with an outline Of what the i'm
periaI government is willing to do TO
avoid war with this country
Efforts Toward Friendship.
This last point is insisted upon en-
phaticalIy, and whatever may have
been the case before, there can be no
question that Germany's representa-
tiYes in this country have been in
structed to put forth a sentiment or
friendship, and so far as he can, the
ambassador is to avoid a contingency
that would mean a suspension OF dip
lomatic relations
Germany asserts its long time
friendship with America to be strong
evidence that It wishes friendly rela-
tons to continue So sincere, says
Berlin, is the German desire for Amer
lean friendship, because Of the mil
lions Of sons and daughters OF the
Fatherland who have found their home
here, that it is willing to do anything