Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-21
THE SECOND AMERICAN NOTE.

Americas second note to Germany on th,
Submarine warfare has been called milder not
han the first, but below the courteous phrase
ogy there is more than hint of adamant de
termination.
Diplomats of the blood and iron school may
tota gather iaIIsthe significance yofs the adroi
phrases. Ii they do, they will understand thai
President Wilson and Secretary Lansing have
iound more than one opening in the German
lote of reply, and in these openings they, have
inserted wedges of demand that Germany vii
find it hard to overlook. >gs.e
In answer to the German claim that the Lusi
tania carried masked guns, trained gunners
Canadian troops and cargo not permitted by
Z. S. law, the note comments significantly that
IF the Imperial German government should
deem itself to be, IN possession of convincing
evidence that the officials of the government OF
the United States did not perform these duties
preventing such shipments) with thorough
ness the government of the United States sin
cerely ghopes that it will submit that evidence
foroonsideTation. =, "a u IS -. i
This puts teug to Germany to furnish unim-
peachable information or be forced to admit
itself badly in the wrong.
The American note takes particularly keen
advantage of the evasive character of the Ger
man reply to the first representations. 1t will
be remembered that the German note, while
stsitiHs that German Submarine commanders
are. no longer able to- observe the customary
regulations of the prize Law" that is of stop
page and search before destroying vessels) did
not DECLARE the destruction of merchants ships
with the resultant loss of n-combatant lives
justified by the necessities of warfare. 1t left
open the question of what is to be done about
the Lusitania case. 1t did not affirm its inten-
ton to continue its submarine campaign I'M
qualifedly and unabated
The American note Immediately and for OBJ
vious purposes assumes that Germany cannot
defend her course to the full. In the closing
the American note says:
The government of the United States cannot admit
that the proclamation of a war zone from which neu-
trail ships have been warned to keep away may be
made to operate as in any degree abbreyation OF
the rights either of American shipmastefs OF
American citizens bound on lawful errand passen-
gers on me reliant ships Of beigerent nationality It
to question those rights II understands 1t also
to accept asesabIshed beyond question the princi
pie that the 1iyes q noncombatants cannot lawfully
or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the capture
destruction of unresisting merchantmen and to
recognize the obligation to take sufficient precauton
TO ascertain whether suspected merchantmen Is In
fact of bellgerent nationality, is in fact carrying
contratand of under neutral flag.
The government of the United States therefore
deems it reasonable expect that the Imperial Ger.
man government will adopt the measures necessary
to put these principles into practise in respect OF the
safeguarding of American lives and American ships
and asks for assurances that this will be done.
BY resolutely refusing to admit that Germany
can justify the lengths to which her submarine
war has gone, the United States places German
diplomacy in a position where, to emerge with
The respect of the world, it must acknowledge
the high and sacred rights of humanity so
upheld in the American note.
Dean G. Worcesterls lecture tonight on the
for the benefit of Leah Home,