The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-06-19

Washington - The text of the
American rejoinder to the German
governments reply to the note follow
ing the sinking of the Lusitania fol-
lows:
"The Secretary, of State ad interim
to the American Ambassador to Ber-
lin:
Department Of State
Washington, d. c., June 9, 1915.
american Ambassador, Berlin:
"You are instructed to deliver tex
tually the following note to the minis
ter of foreign affairs:
"In compliance with your excellen-
cy's request, / did not fail to transmit
to my government Immediately upon
their receipt your note of May % in
reply to my note of May Is and your
supplementary note of June /, set
ting forth the conclusions so far as
reached by the imperial German gov
ernment concerning the attacks on the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. l am now instructed by my
government to communicate the fol-
lowing in reply:
Freedom on Open Sea.
1.-THE government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government, in discussing the cases Of
the Cushing and the Gulfiight of the
principle of the freedom of all parts
of the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness Of the German
government to acknowledge and meet
its liability where the fact ofiattack
upon neutral ships which have not
been guilty of any hostile act by Ger
man aircraft or vessels Of war Is sat.
isfactorily established; and the gov
ernment of the United States will in
due course lay before the imperial
German government as it requests,
full information concerning the at
tack on the steamer Cushing.
Humanity Always Uppermost.
"They have been In the minds OF
statesmen and of international jurists,
throughout the development of naval
warfare and the government of the
United States does not understand
they have ever been held to alter the
principles of humanity upon which II
has insisted. Nothing but actual Tor.
chile resistance or continued 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 passen.
gers or crew. The government of the
United States, however, does not un'
derstand that the imperial German
government is seeking in this case to
relieve itself of liability, but only in
tends to set forth the circumstances
which led the commander of the sub
marine to allow himself to be hur
ried into the course which he took.
lusitania's Status Restated.
"Your excellency's note in discuss
ing the loss Of American lives result
ing from the sinking of the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length tc
certain information which the imperial
German government has received with
regard to the character and outfit o1
that vessel and your excellency ex
presses the fear that this information
may not have been brought to thu
attention of the government Of th'
United States. It is stated in the not
that the Lusitania was undoubtedl,
equipped with masked guns, supplied
with trained gunners and special am
munition, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying a cargo not pei
mitted under the laws of the Unite'
States to a vessel also carrying pas
sengers, and serving in virtual effec
as an auxiliary to the naval forces o
Great Britain. Fortunately, these ar
matters concerning which the govern
ment of the United States is In a posi-
ton to give the imperial German gov
ernment official information. OF tn
facts alleged in your excellency's note
II true, the government would hav
been bound to take official cognizanc
in performing its recognized duty as
neutral power and in enforcing its nj
tional laws.
United States Performed Duties.
| II was its duty to see to 1t that tn
Lusitania was not armed for offensiv
action, that she was not serving as
transport and that she did not carry
cargo prohibited by the statutes of tn
United States and that, II in fact sh
was naval vessel Of Great Britai
she should not receive clearance as
merchantman; and it performed tbs
duty and enforced its statutes wit
scrupulous vigilance through its rei
ularly constituted officials. 1t is abl'
therefore, to assure the imperial Ge
man government that it has been mi.
informed. If the imperial German go'
ernment should deem itself in posse.
sion OF convincing evidence that tn
officials OF the government of tn
United States did not perform thes
duties with thoroughness the go
eminent of the United States SINGER
" hopes that It will submit the ev
dence for consideration.
Whatever may be the contention
of the imperial German governmer
regarding the carriage OF contraban
of war on board tho Lusitania or r
garding the expiosion of that matters