The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-06-18
TEXT OF THE, UNITED STATES
NOTE, IN FULL TO GERMANY

these contentious are irrelevant to the question OF
the legality of the methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking the vessel.
But the sinking Of passenger ships involves prin-
cipes of humanity which throw into the background
any special circumstances of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases. principles which lift it, as
the Imperial German Government will doubt be
quick recognize and acknowledge out Of the class
of ordinary subjects of diplomatic discussion of
international controversy. Whatever be the other
facts regarding the Lusitana, the principal fact is
that a great steamer, primarily and chiefly convey
ance for passengers, and carrying than thou
sand souls who had part lot in the conduct OF
the war; was torpedoed and sunk without much
challenge or warning. and that men, women
and children were sent to their death in circum
stances unparalleled in modern warfare.
v. s. STANDS FOR THE SACRED RIGHTS OF
HUMANITY.
The fact that more than one hundred American
citizens we're among those who pershed made II the
duty OF the Government of the United States to speak
Of these things and once more, with solemn empha
SIS to call the attention Of the imperial German Gov
ernment to the grave responsibility which the Govern
ment Of the United States conceives that 1t has In
Cured In this tragic occurrence and to the indsput
able principle upon which that responsibility rests
The Government Of the United States is contendins
for something much greater than mere rights OF prop
erty privileges of commerce. II Is contending for
nothing high and sacred than the rights of hu
manity which every Government honors itself In
respecting and which no Government is Justified In
resianng on behalf Of those under It's and au-
thorty. Only her actual resistance to capture or
refusal to stop ordered to do for the purpose
Of visit could have afforded the commander Of the
submarine any justification for much as putting
the lives board the ship in jeopardy. This
principle the Government Of the United States under
stands the explicit instructions issued August 3,
1914 by the Imperial German Admiralty to its COM
manders at sea to have recognized and embodied, as
do the naval codes Of all other nations and upon 1t
every traveller and had right to depend. IL
is upon this principle of humanity, we'll as upon
the law founded upon this principle, that the United
States must stand.
WILLING TO CONVEY ANY NOTE FROM GER
MANY TO ENGLAND.
The Government of the United States is happy to
observe that Your Exceency's note closes with the
intnation that the Imperial German Government is
willing now before, to accept the good offices Of
the United States in attempt to come to an under
standing with the Government Of Great Britain by
which the character and conditions OF the war upon
the may be changed. The Government Of the
United States would consider IL privilege thus to
It's friends and the world. It stands ready at
any time to convey to either Government any intima
ton suggestion the other may be willing to have
Il convey and cordially invites the Imperial German
Government to make Of its services In this way
at it's convenience The whole world is concerned in
anything that may bring about even a partial accom-.
mediation Of interest or In any way mitigate the ter
of the present distres essing conflict.
In the meantime, whatever arrangement may hap
PLY be made between the parties to the war, and
whatever may in the opinion Of the Imperial German
Government have been the provocaton the cir
eumstantal justification for the past acts Of Its
manders at sea- the Government Of the United States
confidently looks to the Justice and humanity of
the Government Of Germany vindcated in all cases
where Americans have been wronsed or their rights
as neutrals invaded.
The Government OF the United States therefore,
very earnestly and very soemniy renews the presen-
tatons Of its note transmitted to the Imperial Ger.
man Government on the fifteenth Of May, and relies
In these representations upon the principles Of hu-
msnty, the universally recognized understandings
Of international law, and the ancient friendship Of
the German nation.
STANDS ON RIGHTS OF U. s. LIVES AND PROP.
ERTY IN THE WAR ZONE.
The Government Of the United States cannot
admit that the proclamation OF zone from, which
neutral ships have been warned TO keep away may
be made to operate as In any degree abbreviaton
OF the rights either Of American shlpmasters or Of
American citizens bound lawful errands as passen-
gers on merchant ships Of belliserent nationality II
does not understand the Imperial German Govern.
ment to question those rights II understands IT, also,
to accept as established beyond question the prn-
ciple that the lives Of non-combatants not law
fully rightfuy be put in Jeopardy by the capture
or destruction OF an unresstins n,earchsntman and
TO recognize the obligation to take sufficient preeau-
tons to ascertain whether suspected merchantmen
Is In fact Of beiserent nationality is in fact carry
Ing conrsband Of war undera neutral Aaq The Govern
ment Of the United States therefore deems II reason
able to expect that the Imperial German Government
will adopt the measures necessary to put these prn
eples into practise in respect Of the OF
American lives and American ships and asks for as
surances that this will be done.
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary OF State ao Interim.