Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-05-27
PRESIDENTS NOTE
Text Is CabIed Gerard to be
Presented to Germany.
WAR NO EXCUSE FOR CRIME
Attention Called to Grave Situation
Which Has Resulted from Vic.
lation Of American Rights
on High Seas.

| ioei0H VI Nt0cTiCdn hlQne0
| on High Seas.
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Wash
ington. D. c., May 10, 1915.
/ THE Secretary of state to tn,
American ambassador at Berlin:
Please call on the minister of for
eign affairs and after reading to hin
this communication leave with him
copy.
I'm view Of the recent acts of tn,
German authorities in violation O
American rights on the high seas
which eliminated in the torpedoin,
and sinking OF the British STEAMSHIP
Lusitania on May z, 1915, by which
over 100 American citizens lost theil
lives, 1t is clearly wise and desirable
that the government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent should come to q clear and
full understanding as to the grave
situation which has resulted.
"The sinking Of the British passen
ger steamer Falaba by a German sub
marine on March 2S, through which
Leon c. Thrasher, an American citi
zen was drowned; the attack on April
Is on the American vessel Cushing by
a German acceptance; the torpedolng
on May / of the American vessel Gull
Night by German submarine, as q
result OF which two or more American
citizens met their death and, finally
the torpedoing and sinking Of the
steamship Lusitania, constitute ser
les of events which the government
of the United States has observed
with growing concern, distress and
amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government in mat
tiers OF international right and particu-
larly with regard to the freedom of
the seas; having learned to recognize
German views and the German infiu-
ence In the field Of international OBJ
legation as always engaged upon the
side OF justice and humanity; and
having understood the instructions of
the imperial German government to
Its naval commanders to be upon the
same plane of humane action pre-
scribed by the naval codes OF other
nations, the government OF the Unit
ed States was loath to believe tit
cannot now bring itself to believe
that these acts, so absolutely con-
trary to the rules, the practices, and
the spirit of modern warfare, could
have the countenance or sanction of
that great government. 1t feels 1t to
be its duty, therefore, to address the
imperial German government concern
ing them with the utmost frankness,
and In the earnest hope that II Is not
mistaken in expecting action on the
part of the imperial German govern
ment which will correct the unfortu-
nate impressions which have been
created, and vindicate once more the
position of that government with re-
gard to the sacred freedom OF the
seas.
1.-THE government Of the United
States has been apprized that the
imperial German government consid-
cred themselves to be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances OF the
present war, and the measures adopt
ed by their adversaries in seeking to
cut Germany off from all commerce,
to adopt methods of retaliation which
30 much beyond the ordinary meth
DDS of warfare at sea. in the procla-
nation Of a war zone from which
they have warned neutral ships to
keep away. This government has al
ready taken occasion to inform the
imperial government that 1t cannot
admit the adoption Of such measures
or such a warning of danger to OPP
crate as in any degree an abbrevia-
ton OF the rights OF American ship
masters or OF American citizens
bound on lawful errands as passen-
gers on merchant ships Of belligerent
nationality; and that 1t must hold the
imperial German government to a
strict accountability for any infringe
ment OF those rights, intentional or
accidental. 1t does not understand
the imperial government to question
those rights.
1T assumes. on the contrary, that
the imperial government accept, as Of
course, the rule that the lives Of non
combatants, whether they be Of neu-
trail citizenship or citizens Of any Of
the nations at war. cannot lawfully
or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the
capture or destruction Of an unarmed
and recognizes also, as
all other nations do. the obligation to
take the usual precaution Of visit and
search to ascertain whether sus-
pected merchantmen Is in fact OF bel
ligerent nationality OF Is in fact car.
rying contraband OF war under a neu-
trail flag.
The government of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the
attention OF the imperial German gov
eminent with the utmost earnestness
to the fact that the objection to their
present method of attack against the
trade of their enemies lies In the
practical impossibility OF employing
in the destruction OF
commerce without disregarding those
rules of fairness, reason. justice and
which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t is practi-
cally impossible for the officers OF
submarine to visit merchantmen at
sea and examine her papers and car
90. It is practically impossible for
them to male a prize OF her. and II
"oPn."
nl.~ -~.Hoano. xrhn In hia addroaa