Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-14

steps to prevent the recurrence "of
ANYTHING so obviously subversiye of
the principles cf warfare"
The right of American ships to sail
the seas without molestation and the
right of American citizens to travel up.
on the seas with safety, whether upon
American ships or merchant vessels OF
bcllgerent nations is set fort1 in un.
mistakable terms. And after rcterat'
ing this government IS determination to
hold Germany to "strict accountable
! ity" for violation Of Americans rights,
and stating, in diplomatic language,
that the United States views Ger
many's methods of submarine warfare
as contrary to international law and
the laws of humanity, the president S
note declares;
"'The imperial government will not
expect the government of the United
States to omit any word or any act
necessary to the performance of its sa,
cred duty OF maintaining the rignts of
the United States and its citizens and
of safeguarding their free exercise and
enjoyment. y
The first paragraph of the American
note refers flatly to the "vi0ation Of
American rights on the high seas which
eliminated in the torpcdoing and sink
: ing Of the British steamer Lustania
. bv which more taan 100 American citi-
t zcns lost their lives. II is declared
@ to he wise and desirable that the Unit.
ed States and Germany should come to
. "clcar and full understanding as ia
J the grave situation which has result
cd. -
{ The sinking Of the Falaba and at
tacks upon the Gulflight and Gushing
c and finally the sinking Of the Lusi
2, tania, are declared to constitute
series of events which the government
o of the United States has viewed will
n growing concern, distress and amaze
$ mont." "
@ Referring automatically to the "hu
l name and enlightened attitude hitherto
assumed by the imperial German gov
s cnmcnt in matters of intcrnationa
= right Germany is informed that th'
G United States ''is lOath to believe
It cannot bring itself to bclievc-tha
VI these acts, so absolutely contrary t
the rules the practices, and the splr
e Of modern warfare could believe th
Il countcnanco or sanction Of that grea
government
r. II therefore stated that the Unlte'
n States feels it to be its duty to addres
ID Germany with the utmost frankncs'
:. and it is reiterated that this govern
II mcnt cannot admit OF the dccaratio
Is. us war zone and warning Of neutra
If ships to keep away, "to operate as u
,c any degree an abbroviation of tn
n rights Of American shipmasters or o
81 American citizens, bound on lawful el
Va rands as passengers on merchant snip
IN Of belligcrent nationality.
cs Germany is told that this govcrnmen
Il. assumes that Germany does not que'
e. tion these rights, and attention is eall'
IT. "with the utmost carnestness to ina
faet that the objection to their pre'
to cnt method Of attack against the trao
Of their enemies lies in the praetle'
= mpossibility of employing subn@rh,,
for the destruction OF commerce VIII
out dsrcgardmg these rules Of talrnes
rcnsol Justice and humanity whira q
modern opinion regards as imperative;
lt is pointed out that II is practlcal
impossible for q submarine to opsef'
the rules OF visit and search take
merchant ship as prize or SINK h'
without leaving her crew and all
board az the mercy Of the sea IN sli,a
boats. The note declares it is mI'
stood Germany admits these tacts, ID,
it is pointed out that, in the atlac'
cited time for taking to the BOATS W.
not given and in at least two eases
warning was given. Submarines ca
not hc used as during the rast u,
weeks, "witnout an inevitable [lo'
tion of many sacred principles ana "
titc and humanity Germany is tola.
The rights Of Americans in ttaNen'
wherever their legitimate business ,'
them upon the seas is declared 10
/ mdisputablc. They exercise 'ny
tights. 1t is stated, in confidence ~
hcu lives will not be rndangercu
.'acts done in clear violation OF u