The Nome daily nugget., 1915-08-13

throw into thel background any specia l circumstances of detail that may be thought to affect the cases. principles which lift 1t. as the Imperial German Government will no doubt be quick to recognize and acknowledge, out of the class of ordinary subjects of diplo- matic discussion or of international controversary. Whatever be the other facts regarding the Lusitania, the principal fact is that a great steamer primarily and chiefly a conveyance for passengers. and carrying more than a thousand souls who had no part or lot in the conduct of the war. was tor pedoedi and sunk without so much as a challenge or warning, and that men women and children were sent to their death In circumstances unparalleled in modern warfare. The fact that more than 100 American citizens were among
 those who perished made it the duty of the Government of the United States to speak of these things and once more with solemn emphasis to call the at tention of the Imperial German Gov ernment to the grave responsibility which the Government of the United States conceives that it has incurred In this tragic occurrence, and to the |indisputable principle upon which that responsibility rests. The Government of the United States is contending for
 something much greater than mere rights Of property or. privileges of commerce. It is contending for n, tn . ing less high and sacred than the rights of humanity. which every Government h' nors itself in respecting and which no Government is justified in resigning on behalf of those under it's care and authority. Only her actual resistance to capture or refusal to stop when or dered to do so for the purpose of visit could have afforded the commander of
 the submarine any Justification for 80
 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 Aug. 3. 1914. by the Imperial German Admin alty to it's commanders at sea to have recognized and embodied. as do the naval codes of all other nations. and upon 1t every traveller and seaman had right to de . pend. It Is upon this principle of hu- manity as well as upon the law founded upon this principle that the United States must stand.
 "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 understanding with the Government of Great Britain by which the character land conditions of war upon the sea may be changed. The Government of the United States would consider it n privilege thus to serve it's friends and the world It stands ready at any time to convey to either Government any Iintimation or suggestion the other may be willing to have it convey and cor Idially invites the Imperial German Government to make use of its services in this way at it's convenience. The whole world is concerned in anything that may bring about even a partial Accommodation of interests or in any way mitigate the terrors of the pre- sent distressing conflict.
 'In the meantime. whatever ar-
 rangement may happily be made be- tween the parties to the war, and whatever may in the opinion of the
 Imperial German Government have
 been the provocation or their circum-
 stantial Justification for the past acts ] of it's commanders at sea. the Govern
 ment of the United States confidently
 looks to see the justice and humanity of the Government of Germany vindl- = cated in all cases where Americans
 have been wronged or their rights as neutrals invaded.
 The Government of the United States therefore very earnestly and very sol
 emnly renews the representations of its note transmitted to the Imperial
 German Government on the 18th of
 May. and relies in these representa- tions upon the principles of humanity.
 the universally recognized understand ing of international law and the an-
 cient friendship of the German nation. "The Government of the United States cannot admit that the procla-
 nation of a war zone from which neu-
 tral 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