The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11
The S%ecretory Of state to the Amer
icnn ambassador NJ Herin.

. F sfuW n "ONsSUuOT Ut btVtNVs
Please call on the Minister Of For
!, ejgn Affairs and after reading to him
!. this communication leave with him a
! copy.
In view Of recent acts Of the Ger
man authorities In violation Of Amer
tran rights on the high seas. which
eliminated In the torpedoing and
sinking OF the British steamship
i Lusi,ania on May Z. 1915. by which
Over 100 American citizens lost their
I lives. It Ia clearly wise and desirable
ti,et thl Government Of the United
!. states and the Imperial German Gov-
ernment should come to a clear and
I full understanding as to the grave
Aituation which has resulted.
~ The sinking Of the British, passen-
, Ger steamer Falaba by a German
submarine on March rs. through
which Leon G. Thrasher. an Ameri-
can citizen. was drowned the attack
on April 2s on the American vessel
Gushing by a German aeroplane the
l torpedoing on May l OF the American
vessel Gulhlght by a German subma-
rine, as "A result OF which two or
more American citizens met their
death n finally. the ~torpedoing
and sinking Of the steamship Lusi-
f, tania, constitute a series of vents
which the Government of the United
states has observed with growing
concern, distress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight-
Hned attitude hitherto assumed by the
Imperial German Government In mat
Gers OF International right and par
t~icularly with regard TO the freedom
OF the seas having learned to recog-
nize the German views and the Ger
man influence in the field Of inter
I, national obligation as always en-
gagged pom the side Of justice and
humanity and having understood
the instructions OF the Imperial Ger
man Government to Its naval COM
manders 70 be upon the same plane
Of humane action prescribed by the
naval codes of other nations, the Gov
eminent Of the United States was
I loath to bslieYe-it cannot now bring
itself to bslieve-that these acts. 20
absolutely contrary to the rules. the
practices. and the spirit of modern
warfare. could have the c%ountenancs
or sanction OF that great Govern
0ent.
Feels FPankaess IL Best.
1t feels II to be It's duty. therefore.
10 address the Imperial German Gov
eminent concerning them with the ut.
most frankness and In the earnest
! hope that Il Is not mistaken In sx-
. pecting action on the part Of the
Imperial German Government which
will correct the unfortunate impress
sions which have been created and
Vindicate once more the position Of
= that Government with regard 10 the
sacred freedom OF the sea.
The Government OF the United
: States has been apprised that the
Imperial German Government con
, sidered thems Ives to be obligated
I by tho extraordinary circumstances
K Of the present war and the measures
\ adopted by their a~dversaries II seek
I. ing to cut Germany of from all com-
: merce to adopt methods of ~retalia-
tion which go much beyond the ordi-
4 nary methods Of warfare at sea. In
|. the procla nation OF a war ms from
/, which they nave warned neutral ships
10 keep away.
This Government has already
taken occasion TO inform the I'M
! perial German Government that II
+, cannot admit the adoption OF such
measures OF such a warning OF dan
: ger. to operate as in any degree an
AhNAoat VI Nht llslNr VI NltlVF
! lean shipmas:ers or of American
citizens bound on lawful errands
/. as pass myers on merchant ships OF
!. belligarert nationality and that II
must hold the Imperial Ge-ran Gov
ernment to a strict accountability
! for any infringement of these rights.
, Intentional or incidental.
I 1t does not understand the Imperial
! q rmln Government to question
those rights. II assumes, on the
. contrary. that the Imperial German
I Government accept as OF curse the
! rule that the lives OF n~on-combat-
T. ants, whether they be OF neutral
citizenship or citizens Of one Of the
|. nations at war. cannot lawfully or
/. rightfuiiy ne put in jeopardy by the
capture or destruction Of an un-
armed merchantmen. and recognize
also. as all other nations do. the
obligation to take the usual precnu-
tion or visit and search TO ascertain
whether a suspected merchantmen ~
IN fact Of bellleerent nationality or
is In fact carrying contra band OF
war under a neutral flag.
= Rsles Of Justice Broken.
rs The Government OF the United
states therefore desires 20 call the
!, attention OF the Imperial German
Government with the utmost earnest.
\ ness to the fact that the objection
! TO their present method OF attack
against the trade OF their enemies
/. lies In the practical impossibility Of
,lemploying submarines In the destruc.
i'Gon OF commerce without disregard
ing those rules Of fairness, Justice
7 and humanity which all modern apin.
( Ion regards as imperative.
, II Is practically impossible for the
Z officers Of a submarine 10 visit a
N~erchantman at sea and examine her
papers and cargo. II 10 practically