The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-11
VIII son S SECOND
NOTE NOT SEVERE
AS HIS FIRST NOTE

sion or Of International controversy
Whatever be the other facts regard
ing the Iusfranfa- the principal faccB
that a great steamer, primarily ana
chiefly a conveyance Tor passengers
and carrying more than ,0oo SOUS
who had no part or lot IN the cor
duct OF the war, was torpedoed anu
sunk without so much as a Challenge
or a warning, and That men, 1Sopaen
and children were sent to their dean
IN circumstances unparalleled In
modern warfare. The fact that more
than 100 American citizens were
among those that persisted made u
the duty Of the government on me
United States to speak OF these
things. and once more, with solemn
emphasis, to call The attention OF me
Imperial German government to the
crave responsibility which the gov
eminent OF the United States con
ceives that 1t has incurred IN tn1s
tragic occurrence, and to the 1nd1s-
putab1e principle upon WHICH, tnstI
responsibility rests.
saThc government of the United
States is contending for someth1nS
much greater than mere rights OF
Droperty or privilege OF commerce
It is ccntending for nothing less ISSa
and sacred than the rights or human
ity, which every government honors
itself in respecting and which nc
government is justified IN, resignlnS
on behalf Of those under its care and
authority. Only her actua! resistance
TO capture or refusal to stop When
ordered to do so for the purpose OF
visit could have afored the COM
mander OF the submarine any Just1n-
cation for so much as putting the
lives Of those on board the snip p u
jeopardy. This pStncfp1e the gov
eminent of the Un1csd States u1der-
stands the explicit instructions issued
on August 3, 1914, by the Imperial
German admiralty to its commanders
at seq. to have recognized and en-
bodies. as to the naval codes OF AL
other nations, and upon. 1t every
I-traveIer and seaman had a 1gnt -
depend. It is upon this principle OF
humanity as well as upon the law
founded upon this principle that tne
United States must stand.
Representations Renewed.
seThe government of the United
states is happy to observe that your
lexcellency's note closes with the IN
tination that the Imperial German
government is willing now as before,
to accept the good offices OF the
T7nited states in an attempt to come
to an understanding with the gov
eminent of Great Britain, by Wnrcn
the character and conditions OF the
war upon the sea may be changed
THE government OF the United STAGES
would consider it privilege thus 20
serve its friends and the world
Islands ready at any time to convey TO
aS+I3ar government any animation or
suggestion the other may be VIKING
TO have it convey and cordially 1nv1tes
the Imperial German government GO
make 1Ise of IT'S services In this way
At its convenience. The whole world
IL concerned in, anything that may
bring about even partial acccono-
dalton Of interests OF in any way NIT
frate the terrors Of the present DIS
tressing conflict
, EsIn the meantime, whatever ar
rangements may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war, ana
whatever may in the opinion Of the
Imperial German government nave
been the provocation or the ctrcum-1
stantial justification for the past acts
of it's commanders at sea, the gov
eminent of the United States looks
to see the justice and humanity or
the government OF Germany vindicat-
ed in all cases where Americans have
been wronged or their rights as neU-
trails invaded
eaThe government Of the UnihcS
States. therefore, very earnestly and
very solemnIy renews the representa-
lions of its note transmitted to the
Imperial German government on the
18th of May, and relies in these rep
reservations upon the principles OF
humanity, the universally recognized
understanding of International Law,
and the ancient friendship of the
German nation.
Must Respect American Rights.
The government Of the United
States cannot admit that the procla-
nation Of war zone from which neu-
trail ships have been warned to keep
away may be made to operate as In
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights either of American Shipmasters
or of American citizens, bound on
lawful errands as passengers on merSl
chant ships OF belligerent nationality.
It does not understand the Imperial
German government to question those
rights. 1t understands It, also, to ac-
cept as established beyond question
the principle that the lives of nom |
combatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put In jeopardy by the cap !
ture or destruction Of an unresisting I
merchantmen, and to recognize the
obligation to take sufficient precau-
ton to ascertain whether suspected !
merchantmen. is in fact OF belligerent |