The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-16
AMERICA ASKS JUSTICE
AT HANDS OF GERMANY
Continued from page ~

German admiralty to its commanders
at sea to have recognized and embed
led, as do the naval codes of ali
other nations, and upon it every ira
Weller and seaman had a right to de-
pend. 1t is upon this principle of
humanity as we'll 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 yoir
excellency's note closes with the init
nation that the imperial German
government is willing, now as before.
to accept the good Offices of the Unit
ed States in an attempt to come to
an understanding with the govern
ment of Great Britain by which the
character and conditions of the war
upon the sea may be changed. The
government Of the United States
would consider it a privilege thus to
serve it's friends and the world. 1t
stands ready at any time to convey
to either government any intimation
or suggestion the other may be will
ing to have it convey and cordially
invites the imperial German govern
ment to make use of it's services in
this way at it's convenience. The
whole world is concerned in anything
that may bring about eve a partial
accommodation of interests or in any
way mitigate the terrors of the pres
ent distressing conflict.
Looks for Justice.
SIN the meantime, whatever ar
engagements 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 p~rovocation or the circum-
stantial justification for the past acts
of its commanders at sea, the gov
eminent of the United States con-
fdently looks to see the justice and
humanity of the government of Ger
many indicated in all cases where
Americans have been wronged or
their rights as neutrals involved.
"The government of the United
States, therefore, earnestly and very
solemnly renew the representations
of its note transmitted to the imperi-
al German government on the 18th
of May and relies on these represen-
~tations upon the principles of human
ity, the universally recognized under
standings of international law, and
the ancient friendship of the German
nation.
"The government of the United
States can not admit that the promul-
cation of a 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 shipmas-
tiers or of American citizens bound
on lawful errands as passengers on
merchant ships of belligerent nation
atty. It does not understand the
imperial German government to
question those rights. It understands
it, also, to accept as established be-
yond question the principle that the
lives of non-combatants can not law
fully OF r%ightfully be put in Jeopardy
by the capture OF destruction of IL
unresisting merchantmen, and to re-
cognize the obligation to take stuff.
cient %precaution to ascertain whsther
a suspected merchantmen is in fact
of belligerent nationality or is in
fact carrying contraband of war un-
der a neutral flag. The govern
ment of the United States therefore
deems it reasonable to expect that
the imperial German government will
adopt the measures necessary to put
these principles into practice in res
pect of the safeguarding of Ameri-
can lives md American ships and
asks for that this will be
done.
(Signed) "Robert Lansing,
~"Secretary of State ad Interim"
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