Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-06-18
America in Latest Note Pleads
for Safeguard Of American
Lives and American
Ships on High
Seas,
upaOLDs POSITION OF u. S.
Copy Of the Note Was Delivered to
Count 0 ~sernstorff, the German
Ambassador June 1oth-says
Reply VIII Be Left to Ger
man Government.


Washington. June 1.-THE United
States In its attest note to Germany,
made public yesterday formally asks
The imperial German government for
assurances that measures hereafter
viii be adopted to safeguard "Ameri-
can lives and American ships" on the
high The alternative in case Of
refusal is not stated.
n was this tote to which William
Jennings Bryan refused to attach his
signature, resigning instead, his port
folio OF secretary OF state and thereby
precipitating a dramatic cabinet crisis.
Robert Lansing, secretary of state ad
interim. signed the communication
which went forth with the approval of
President Wilson and his entire cab
met.
Friendly terms characterize the
document which renews representa-
Hons made in the American note that
reached Germany on May Is after the
Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk
Nth a loss OF more than 100 American
nves. The German government, it is
declared, must have been misin-
formed" when Il assumed that the
Lusitania carried guns, as Official In
formation is at hand to corroborate
nc original contention Of the Wash
tnston government-that the Lusitania
~as an unarmed passenger ship which,
since II did not resist capture could
not be sunk without transferring the
passengers and crew to a place OF
safety.
The communication informs Ger.
many that II is on the principle OF hui
manity as well as upon law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand. Opportunity is Civ
en- TO Germany to submit any evidence
that American officials did not execute
their tasks thoroughly in inspecting
The Lusitania before she sailed but
the cardinal fact-that the liner was
given no warning and made no resist.
nnce and was primarily a passenger
ship-the American government De
clares throws into the background
any special circumstances Of detail
and lifts the cas- out Of the class Of
ordinary subjects Of diplomatic discus
sion or Of international controversy
Won ssrrstorff Silent.
A copy OF the note was delivered &c
Count o Bernstorf, the German am
b~Rssador. June 10th. He declined to
comment saying that would have tc
be left to ne reply OF his government
In diplomatic circles generally the
Dote seemed to create a favorable i'm
preston. In quarters friendly to Ger
many, II was stated that the documeni
confirmed a belief held since Coun'
Won Bernstorf's recent interview
with President Wilson, that the critic
al stage had been passed and tina
with the American viewpoint clearl,
before it, the German government
would be able TO find a way out Of tn,
dilemma that would satisfy the Unit
cd States.
Meyer Gerhard, now on his way Il
Berlin as personal representative o
Count Won Bernstorff. is understood Il
have been instructed to outline the al
fitude OF the American government II
n way that will merely supplement tn
statement Of position in the note. Il
German quarters no response from tn
imperial government Is looked TO
until after Gerhard reaches Berlin
perhaps ten days or a fortnight hence
One phase Of the note which al
tracted much attention in diplomat
circles was that relating to mediator
steps on the part of the United state
looking toward a reformation OF wal
fare on the seas generally. In thi
connection It was suggested that III
chief diniculty might be an insistenc
by Germany that the allies refrai
from interfering, not only with f6ot
utuffs consigned to her civilian popl
~1ation. but with raw materials of a
kinds.