Norwich bulletin., 1915-05-13
Demands Made
Upon Germany
MUST MAKE PREPARATION FOR
UNLAWFUL ACTS.
TO BE CABLED TO-DAY
United States to Demand a Guarantee
That the Rights of Non combatants
viii Be Observed and That There
Will Be No Repetition of Attacks
on Ships Carrying Nom combatants.

Oh SHiPS Varying Non-OonpaLanpS.
Washington, May 12.-The United
States in a note to be sent to Germany
tomorrow demands a guarantee that
there will be no further attacks by
submarines on merchant ships carry
ing non -combatants. 1t serves notice
also that full reparation will be sought
for the loss of more than 100 Amer
lean lives in the sinking of the Lusi-
tania and for other violations of Amer
lean rights in the sea zones of war.
No Indication of Future Action.
While no indication is given of the
steps to be taken by the United States
in the event of an unfavorable reply,
the note informs the German govern
ment that the American government
will leave nothing undone either in
diplomatic representation or other ac-
ton to obtain a compliance with it's
request
Revised by President.
The document was to have been
cabled tonight, but the president after
conferences with Counsellor Robert
Lansing, of the state department
made several changes in legal detail
and then revised it alone in his study
tonight.
Tomorrow it will be dispatched and,
it is expected to be made public soon
after.
No changes were made in the essen
tials of the communication as formu-
lated Sunday by the president and ap-
proved by the cabinet yesterday. The
principal points in the note are sub
stantially as follows:
Atrocities Which Are Protested.
1.-The United States government
calls attention to the various incidents
in the war zone proclaimed by Ger
many around the British Isles: the
sinking of the British liner Falaba
with the loss of Leon c. Thresher, an
American: the attack by German air.
men on the American steamer Cush-
ing, the torpedoing without warning
of the American steamer Gulf1ight fly
ing the Stars and Stripes, and finally
the torpedoing without warming of the
Lusitania with its loss OF more than
a thousand lives of non-combatants,
among them more than 100 Americans.
Acts Declared Indefensibe.
2-These acts are declared to be
indefensible under international law
The United States points out that it
never admitted Germany's right to do
them, and warned the imperial govern
ment that it would be held to a strict
accountability for attacks on Ameri-
can vessels or lives strict account
ing, therefore, is now osked from Ger
many.
Usual Financial Reparation.
3-The usual financial reparation
will be sought, although Germany is
in effect reminded that no reparation
can restore the lives of those sacrificed
in the sinking of the Lusitania and
other ships.
Expressions of Regret VaIueIess.
4-Expressions of regret may com
ply with the legal precedents, but they
are valueless unless accompanied by
cessation of the practices endanger-
ing lives of non -combatants.
Rights of Neutrals on High Seas.
5-The right of neutrals to travel
any point of the high seas on neutral
or belligerent merchantmen is assert
ed.
Guaranty of Rights.
6-In the name of humanity and
international law, the United States
will be respected and that there be no
repetition of attacks on merchantmen
carrying nom -cOmbatants.
Warnings No Justification.
THE giving of warnings to the
American public without officially COM
municating them to the United States
government is commented on in con-
nection with the German embassy s
printed advertisement before the sail
4H5 VI Tie LuS1Id11d. DuL IRRESPECTIVE
of the failure to advise the American
government of Germany's purpose, the
point is made that notice of an inten-
tion to do an unlawful act neither JUS
titled nor legalized it.
Hopes Orders Were Misunderstood.
S-The suggestion is conveyed that
the German government, of course,
could not have intended to destroy in
nocent lives and that consequently the
s1TlnTT7a
have mfsund derstood their instructions.
The American government indicates
it's hope that this will be found to be
true, and a cessation of the unlawful
practices thereby will result.
viii Enforce Compliance.
Gin conclusion, Germany's atten-
ton is called to the earnestness of the
States in this situation. 1t is made
plain that the United States will leave
nothing undone either in diplomatic
representation or other action to OBJ
tain a compliance by Germany to the
request made.
Couched in Friendly Terms.
The note throughout is couched in
friendly tones. but is Enthusiastically
firm. By. the suggestion that German
misunderstood their instructions or
that the German government could not
have intended to destroy innocent
lives. room is given for a disavowal
by Germany of the practices in the
war zone and an assurance that fu-
ture attacks will be prohibited.
Interest in Executive Quarters.
In executive quarters intense inter-
est prevailed today and news of what
the American note contained was Gag
erly sought by officials in the govern
ment departments and in diplomatic
circles generally.
Fleischmann Shoots Himself.
n44o n