Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-15

Only her actual resistance to capture
or refusal to stop when ordered to do
SO for the purpose of visit could have
afforded 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
understands the explicit instructions
issued August 8. 1914. by the Imperial
German Admiralty to its commanders
at sea to have recognized and en-
bodied. as do the naval codes OF all
other nations, and upon it every
traveller and seaman had a right to de-
pend. 1t is upon this principle of hui
mainly as well as upon the law found
ed upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
THE government of the United
States is happy TO observe that Your
Excellency's note closes with the in
timation that the Imperial German
Government is willing, now as before,
to accept the good Offices of the
United 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 privilege thus to serve
its friends and the world. It stands
ready at any time to convey to either
government any intimation or sugges-
ton the other may be willing to have
1t convey and cordially invites the I'M
perial German Government to make
use of its services in this way at its
convenience. The whole world is con-
cerned in anything that may bring
about even a partial accommodation
of interests or in any way mitigate the
terrors of. the present distressing con-
fiict
I'm the meantime, whatever ar
rangements may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war and what
ever may in the opinion of the I'm
perial German Government have been
the provocation or the circumstantial
commanders at sea, the government of
the United States confidently looks to
see the justice and humanity of the
government of Germany indicated in
all cases where Americans have been
wronged or their rights as neutrals in
vaded.
THE government of the United
States, therefore, very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the original rep
resentation of its note transmitted to
the Imperial German Government on
the 18th Of May, and relies in these
representations upon the principles of
humanity, the universally recognized
understandings of international law
and the ancient friendship of the Ger
man nation.
RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS.
"The government of the United
States cannot admit that the proclama-
ton of war zone from which neutral
ships have been warned to keep away
may be made to operate as in any de-
gree an abbreviation of the rights
either of American shipmasters or of
American citizens bound on lawful
errands as passengers on merchant
ships of belligerent nationality. 1t
does not understand the Imperial Ger
man government to question those
rights. 1t understands 1t, also, to &C
cept as established beyond question
the principle that the lives of non
combatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the cap
ture or destruction of an unresisting
merchantmen, and to recognize the
obligation to take sufficient precaution
to ascertain whether a suspected mer-
chairman is In fact of belligerent ma
tionality or is in fact carrying contra
band of war under a neutral flag. The
government of the United States
therefore deems it reasonable to ex-
pect that the Imperial German govern
ment will adopt the measures neces-
sary to put these principles into prac-
tice in respect to the safeguarding OF
American lives and American ships,
and asks for assurances that this will
be done.
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State ad interim"