The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1915-06-18

vigilance through Its regularly con-
Htituted officials. IL iB able, there
fore, 20 assure the imperial German
government that II has been misin-
formed.
"If the imperial German govern
ment should deem itself TO be In pos
session Of convincing evidence that tho
officials OF the Government OF the
United States did not perform these
duties with thoroughness, the Gov
ernment Of tho United States sin.
ecrely hopes that II will submit that
evidence for consideration.
Contentious Held Irrelevant
Whatever may be the contentious
Of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage Of contraband
OF war on board the Luaitania, or re-
garding the explosion Of that material
by torpedo, Il need only be said that,
in the view Of this Government, the
contentious are irrelevant 70 the ques-
ton Of the legality Of the methods
used by the German naval authori-
ties In sinking that vessel.
"But the sinking Of passenger ships
involves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstance Of detail that may be
thought 10 affect the cases-prineiples
which lift II, a. the imperial govern
ment will no doubt be quick 10 recog-
nIze and acknowledge, out OF the class
Of ordinary subjects Of diplomatic dis
cussion or international controversy.
Whatever be the facts regarding the
LusltaniR, the principal fact Is that n
great steamer. primarily and chiefly
= conveyance for passengers and car
ryinK more than 1000 souls who had
no part or lot in the conduct Of the
war, was torpedoed and sunk without
10 much as q challenge or n warning,
and that men, women and children
were sent 20 their death In circum-
stances unparalleled in modern war
fare.
Duty Owed 10 Humanity.
''The fact that more than 100 Amer
lean citizens were among those who
perished made Il the duty Of the Gov
ernment Of the United States TO speak
Of these things, and once more. with
solemn emphasis, TO call the atten-
tion Of the imperial German govern
ment 10 the grave responsibility which
the Government Of the United States
eoneeivea that II has incurred In this
tragic occurrence and 10 the indis-
pu.able principle upon which that re-
sponsibility rests. The Government
Of the United States Is contending for
something much greater than mere
rights Of property or privileges Of
commerce. II Is contending for moth
Ing less high and sacred than the
rights OF humanity, which every gov
ernment honors 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 ordered to do so for
the purpose Of visit could have af-
forded the commander Of the sub
marine any justification for so much
as putting the lives Of those on board
the ship in jeopardy. This principle
the Government Of the United States
the explicit instructions
issued on August 8, 1914, by the i'm
perial German Admiralty to It's COM
manders at sea TO have recognized and
embodied, rs do the naval codes Of all
other nations, and upon 1t every
traveller and seaman had q right TO
depend. II Is upon this principle of
humanity, 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
note closes with tho in |
timation that tho imperial German
government Ii willing, now as before,
to accept tho good offices Of the
United States in an attempt to come
to an understanding with the govern
ment of Great Britain, by which the
and conditions of the war
upon the sea may be changed. The
Of the United States
would consider IL n privilege thus to
serve its friends and the world. It
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 even partial
accommodation Of interests or in any |
way mitigate the terrors Of the pres |
ent distressing conflict.
"In the meantime, whatever ar
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 the 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 vim
dicated in all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
invaded.
1.-THE Government Of the United
States therefore very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-
tions of its note transmitted to the
imperial German government on the
18th Of May and relies in these repre-
sentations upon the principles Of hu-
the universally recognized
Of international law
and the ancient friendship of the Ger
,nar watsnn