The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-07-16

Causes That Led Up to the Rift Be-
tween the Two Governments and Ex-
cerpts From the Various Notes That
Have Been Exchanged-No lntima-
ton Given as to the Answer.
President Wilson, assisted by Secre-
tary Of State Robert Lansing, IL now
az work considering the American reply
to Germany's latest note, In which the
kaiser refused Il heed Americas de-
mands TO change the tactics of the sub
marines. In the opinion of well In
formed men I'm Washington there would
be little delay In answering he latest
communication from Germany.
At this juncture the causes of the
differences between the two oun
tries nre interesting. Following is the
official war tone decree by Germany,
with excerpts from the various diplo-
matte exchanges:
Proclamation OF a War Zone by the
German Government. Feb. 4. l9lb.-The
waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland, including the whole English
channel, are hereby iecintcd 60 be war
zone. On and after Feb. Is, 1916. every
enemy merchant ship found IN the said
war zone will be destroyed without IL
being always possible to avert the dan
gers threatening the crews and passen-
gers on that account.
III.
From the Protest OF the United States
Government, Feb. 10, 1915.-s = . IL such
a depiorable situation [as infringement
of the tights of American c~itizensl should
arise, the imperial German government
can readily appreciate that the govern
mcnt or the United States would be con-
strained to hold the imperial German
government TO a strict accountability for
such acts OF their naval authorities and
10 take any steps Ii might be necessary to
take TO safeguard American lives and
property and TO secure TO American citi-
zans the full enjoyment Of their acknowi-
edged rights on the high seas.
Destruction OF the Lusitania.-The Brit
ish merchant vessel Lusitania was tor
pedoed and sunk by a German submarine
In the English channel May Z. l9i5, when
more than 100 American citizens lost their
lives.
From the Note of the United States
Government to the German Government
May Is. l9l5.-sss This government has
already taken occasion TO inform the Inn
perial German government that II cannot
admit the adoption OF such measures Iof
retaliation against the British govern
mentl sss TO operate as In any degree
an abbreviation of the rights " of
American citizens bound on Lawful err
rands as passengers on merchant ships
OF beiligerent nationality. ss American
citizens act within their i%ndisputable
rights In taking their ships and In trav-
cling wherever their legitimate business
calls them upon the high seas and exer-
else these rights in what should be the
well justified confidence that their lives
will not be endangered by acts lone In
clear violation OF universally acknowl-
edged international obligations and GER
tainly In the confidence that their own
government will sustain them In the exer-
else of their rights. s"s
v.
From the Reply OF the German Govern
ment, May IS, 191b.- . IL is, more
over, known to the imperial government
from reliable Information furnished by It's
officials and neutral passengers that for
some time practically all the more valua-
bic English merchant vessels have been
provided with guns. ammunition and
other Weapons and REINFORCED with a
crew specially practiced I'm manning guns.
According to reports at hand here the
Lusitania when she left New York I'M
doubtedly had guns on board which were
mounted under decks and masked. .
The German commanders are consequent
ly no longer In a position to observe the
rules OF capture.
vi
From the Reply OF the United States
Government, Tune 10. l9l5-ss" Moth
Ing but actual forcible resistance or con-
tinued efforts TO escape by flight when
ordered to stop for the purpose of visit
on the part Of the merchantmen has ever
been held to forfeit the lives of her pas
sengers or crew. s'* Ii was it's 1.-THE
United States governmental duty to see
that the Lusitania was not armed for Of
fensive action: that she was not serving
as a transport: that she did not carry a
cargo prohibited by the statutes of the
United States. and that. IL In fact she
was a naval vessel OF Great Britain, she
should not receive clearance as a mer-
chairman; and 1t performed that duty
and enforced its statutes with scrupulous
vigilance through it's regularly constitute
ed officials. 1t Is able. therefore. to as
sure the imperial German government
that 1t has been misinformed. .
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 submarine any
justification for so much as putting the
lives OF those on board the ship In jeopar-
dy. This principle the government OF the
United States understands the explicit In
structions, Issued on Aug. 3. 1914. by the
imperial German admiralty to its COM
manders at sea. to AVE recognized and
embodied. 1t is upon this princi-
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