The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-06-19

man, has ever been held to forfeit the
lives Of her passenserS OF crew. The
government Of the United States. how
ever. does not understand that the Inn
perial German government IL seeking
IN this case to relieve itself of liabil-
ity, but only Intends to set forth the
circumstances which led the com
mander Of the submarine to allow him
self to be hurried into the course
which he took.
LusItanIa Was Not Armed.
"Your excellency's note, in discuss
ing the loss OF American lives result
ing from the sinking OF the steamship
Lusitauia. adverts at some length to
certain information which the Inn
perial German government has re-
ceived with regard to character and
outfit Of that vessel. and your excel.
lency expresses the fear that this in.
formation may not have been brought
to the attention of the government OF
the United States. It is stated in the
the note that the Lusitania was un.
doubtedly equipped with masked guns,
supplied with trained gunners and spe,
cial ammunition. transporting troops
from Canada, carrying a cargo NOT
permitted under the laws Of the
United States to q vessel also carry.
ing passengers. and serving. in virtual
effect, as an auxiliary to the naval
forces OF Great Britain. Fortunately
these are matters concerning which
the government of the United States
Is in Q position to give the imperial
German government Official informa.
tion. OF the facts alleged in your ex-
cellency's note, II true, the govern.
ment or the United States would have
been bound to take official cognizance
in performing It's recognized duty as q
neutral power and in enforcing its ma.
tional laws. It was its duty to see to
It that the Lusitania was not armed
for offensive action, that she was not
serving as q transport, that she did
not carry cargo prohibited by the
statutes Of the United States and
that, II In fact she was naval vessel
Of Great Britain. she would not re-
ceive clearances as merchantman
and Il performed that duty and en-
forced its statutes with scrupulous
vigilance through its regularly consti
tuted officials. It is able, therefore, to
assure the imperial German govern.
ment that It has been misinformed.
Contentious Are Irrelevant.
IF the imperial German government
should deem itself to be in possession
of convincing evidence that the Off.
cials of the governmentNof the United
States did not perform these duties
with thoroughness. the government OF
the United States sincerely hopes that
1t will submit that evidence for con
sideration.
Whatever may be the contentious
of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage Of contraband
of war on board the Lusitania or re
garding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo, It need only be said
that in the view of this government
these contentious are irrelevant to the
question of the legality of, the methods
used by the German naval authorities
In sinking the vessel.
Seeks Rights Of Humanity.
But the sinking of passenger ships
involves principles 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 no doubt be quick
to recognize and acknowledge, out ol
the class of ordinary subjects of dip
lomatic discussion or of internationa
controversy. Whatever be the othel
facts regarding the Lusitania, the
principal fact is that great steam
er. primarily and chiefly a convey
ance for passengers. and carrying
more than q thousand souls who hat
no part or lot in the conduct of ths
war, was torpedoed and sunk with
out 30 much as challenge or warn
ing, and that men, women and chill
dren were sent to their death in cir
cumstances unparalleled In modern
warfare. The fact that more than 10t
American citizens were among those
who perished, made Il the duty o.
the government Of the United States
to speak Of these things and once
more, with solemn emphasis, to cal
the attention of the imperial German
government to the grave responsible
fly which the government of the
United States conceives that It hal
incurred in this tragic occurrence
and to the indisputable principle upor
which that responsibility rests. The
government Of the United States d
contending for something much great
or than mere rights Of property OF
privileges of commerce. II 10 con
tending for nothing less high and "a
cred than the rights of humanity
which every government honors II
self In respecting and which no gov
ernment IL justified In resigning OF
behalf Of those under fts care ant
authority. Only her actual resistanc,
to capture or refusal to stop when or
dered to do 80 for the purpose Of Wis
II could have afforded the commando
Of the submarine any justification TO
90 much as putting the lives of th6s,
on board the ship In Jeopardy. Thi
principle the government Of tn,
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