The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-06-15
TEXT OF NOTE
Safeguarding of American Lives Firm.
iv demanded

American Amha Sador, Berlin.
You are instructed to deliver teXtually
the following note TO the minister of for
tirn affairs:
in compliance with your excellency's
request, did not fail to transmit to nv
government Immediately upon their re-
ceipt your note of May % in reply to my
note OF May Is, and your supplementary
note of June l. setting forth the conclu-
sions so far as reached by the imperial
German government concerning the at
taCks on the American steamers Gushing
and Gulflight. l am now Instructed by
my government to communicate the foi-
lowing reply:
The government of the United States
notes with qualification the full recogni-
tion by the imperial German government,
In discussing the cases of the Gushing
snd the Gulhight, of tho principle of the
freedom of all parts of the open sea to
neutral ships and the frank willingness
of the imperial German government to
acknowledge and meet its liability where
the fact OF attack upon neutral ships
(which havs not been guilty of any hos
tile action" by German aircract or vessels
of war is satisfactorily established: and
the government of the United States will
in due course lay before the imperial Ger
man government. as Il requests, full in
formation concerning the attack ON the
steamer Cushing.
With regard to the sinking Of the
steamer Falaba, by which an American
citizen lost his life, the government of
the United States is surprised to find
the imperial German government con-
tending that an effort of merchantman
to escape capture and secure assistance
alters the obligation OF the officer seek
ing to make the capture in respect TO
tho safety of the lives of those on board
the merchantmen. although the vessel
had ceased her attempt to escape when
torpedoed. These are not new circum-
stances. They have been in the minds
of statesmen and Of international jnriSrs
throughout the development OF naval
warfare, and the government OF the Unit
ed States does not understand that they
have ever been held to alter the princi-
pies of humanity upon which 1t has in
sisted Nothing but actual forcible re-
sistance or continued efforts TO escape
by fight when ordered to stop for ;he
purpose of visit or the part of the rner~
chairman has ever been held to forfeit
the lives of her passengers or crew. The
government of the United States, how
ever. does not understand that the i'm
perial German government Is seeking in
this case to relieve itself OF liability, but
only intends to set forth the circum-
stances which led the commander of the
submarine to allow himself to be h,r-
ried into the course which he took.
lusItanla Not Armed.
Your excellency's note, in discussing
the loss of American lives resulting from
the sinking of the steamship Tusitania.
adverts at some length to certain infor-
nation which the imperial German gov
ernment has received with regard to the
character and outfit of that vessel, and
your eXcellency expresses the fear that
this information may not have been
brought to the attention of the govern
ment of the United States, 1t is stated
in the note that the Lusitania was I'M
| doubtedy equipped with masked guns.
supplied with trained gunners and spe-
cial ammunition, transporting troops
from Canada, carrying n cargo not per-
| mitted under the laws of tho United
| States to n vessel also carrying passen-
| gers, and serving in virtual effect, as nm
| auYiary to the naval forces Of Great
| britain. fortunately, these are matters
| concerning which the government of the
| United States is in a position to give the
| imrerial German government official IN
| formation. OF the facts alleged In your
| eXcellency's note, If true, the government
| of the United States would have been
bound To take official cognizance In per
! forming It's reco2nized duty as a neutral
power and in enforcing its national laws
| II was its duty to sec to 1t that the
I.usitania was not armed for offensive
| action. that she was not serving as a
| transport, that she did not carry cargo
prohibited by the statutes of the United
| States. and that If In fact she was a
naval vessel OF Great Britain. she should
| not receive clearance as merchantmen; |;
| and II rerorIred that duty and enforced
| its statutes with scrupulous vigilance
through tbs regularly constituted officials.
II is able therefore to assure the i'm
! perial German government that has
been misinformed IL the imperial Ger
man government should deem itself to bs
In possession Of convincing. evidence that