The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-05-20
Nv WASHINGTON, May 14-The United States
w Government yesterday cabled Ambassa-
w dor Gerard for nresentatiOn to the Ger

N
" Government yesterday cabled Ambassa-
dor Gerard for presentation to the Ger
man Government a note calling attention
to the grave situation which has resulted" from vio
latiOn of American rights the high seas, culmna-
ting, in the sinking of the Lusitana with loss of
more than 100 American lives.
The communication expresses confident expecta-
ton of the United States that the Imperial Govern
ment will dsavow the acts of which the Government
of the United States complains, that they will make
reparation far reparation is possible for in
juries which without measure and that they will
take immediate steps to prevent the reoccurence of
anything obviously subversve of the principles of
warfare for which the Imperial German Government
in the past wisely and so firmly contended."
In its conclusion the note states that "the chief
Imperial Government will not expect the Govern
ment of the United States to omit any word or any
necessary the performance of its sacred duty
of maintaing the right of the United States and its
citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and
enjoyment"
The full text of the note was made public last
night by the State Department, as follows:
''The secretary of state to the American am
basador, Berlin:
please call on the minister of foreign affairs
and after reading to him this communication leave
with him a copy:
'1n view of recent acts of the German author
seas, which eliminated in the torpedoing and sink
ing of the British steamship Lusitania May Z,
1915 by which 100 American citizens lost their
lives it is clearly wise and desirable that the Gov
eminent of the United States and the imperial Ger
man government should come to clear and full
sterdanding to the grave situation which has re-
suited
"The sinking of the British passenger steamer
Falaba by German submarine on March 20,
which e. ThraS hor cit
zen, was drowned; the attack April % the
American vessel Cushing by German aerOplane;
tOrpedOing May l of the American vessel Gull
fight by German submarine, a result of which
two or American citizens met their death; and,
finally, the tOrpedong and sinking of the steamship
Lusitania constitute series of events which the
Government of the United States has observed with
growing concern, distress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude
hitherto assumed by the imperial German govern
ment in matters of international right and partc-
ularly with regard to the freedom of the seas hav
ing learned the German views and the German in
fuence in the field of international obligation al
ways engaged upon side of justice and humanity; and
having understood the instruction of the imperial
German government to it's naval commanders to be
upon the same plane of humane action prescribed
by the naval codes of other natOns the government
of the United States loath to beleve-it cannot
now bring itself to believe, that these acts absolute
y contrary to the rules the practices and the spirit
Of modern warfare, could have the cOuntenance
sanction of that great government 1t feels it to be
its duty therefore, to address the imperial German
government concerning them with the utmost frank
and in the earnest hope that it is not mistaken
in expecting action the part of the imperial Ger
man government which will correct the unfortunate
Impressions which have been created and vindcate
once more the position of that government with
gard to the sacred freedom of the seas.
"The government of the United States has been
appraised that the imperial German government
sdered themselves to be obliged by the extraOrdn-
airy circumstances of the present and the meas
adopted by their adversaries in seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce. to adopt methods of
retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary
methods of warfare at sea- in the proclamation of
war zone from which they have warned neutral
ships to keep away. This government has already
taken occasion to inform the imperial German gov
eminent that it cannot admit the adoption of such
measures such warning of danger to operate as
in any degree abbreviation of the rights of Am
erican shipmasters of American citizens bound on
lawful errands passengers merchant ships of
begerent nationality; and that it must hold the i'm
peral German government to strict accountability
for any infringement of those rights, intentional
incidental 1t does not understand the imperial gov
eminent to question those rights. 1t assumes the
contrary, that the imperial German government
cept a course, that the lives of nOncOmbatants
whether they be of neutral citizenship citizens of
one of the nations of cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture destruc
ton of unarmed merchantmen, and recognizes
Also all other nations do, the obligation to take
the usual precauon of visit and search to ascertain