West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-05-20

OF the note from the United States
government to the German imperial
government transmitted today To Am
bassador Gerard ut Berlin and to no
presented tomorrow morning TO the
German foreign office reads as fol-
lows:
The Secretary TO the American Am
bassador at Berlin,
Department OF State.
Washington, May 1S. 1915.
Please call on the minister of for
eign affairs and, after reading TO him
this communication. leave with him a
copy
In view OF recent acts OF the Ger
man authoities in violation OF Amer,-
can rights on the high seas which
eliminated in the torpedoing and sink
ing OF the British steamship Lusitania
on May Z, 1915. by which over 100
Americans lost their lives, IL is clearly
right and desirable that the govern
ment OF the United States and the
Imperial German government should
come to closer understanding as TO
the grave situation which has result
ed
The sinking of the British passen-
ger steamship Falaba by a German
submarine on March 2Sth. through
which Leon c. Thresher, an American
citizen, was drowned; the attack on
April 20 on the American vessel Cush-
ing by German aero; the torpedoing
on May 1st of the American vessel
Gulhight by a German submarine, as
result of which two or more Ameri-
can citizens met their death, and fin
ally the sinking of the British steam
ship Lusitania, constitute a series Of
events which the government of the
United States has observed with
growing concern, distress and amaze
ment
Recalling the humane and enlight-
ehed attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government In mat
ters of international right, and partic-
ularly with reference TO the freedom
OF the sea; having learned to recog-
nize the German view and the Ger
man influence in the field OF interna-
uonal obligation as always engaged
upon the side OF justice and humanity.
and having understood the instruction
OF the Imperial German government
10 It's naval commanders to be upon
the same plane of humane action pre-
scribed by the naval code of other ma
tlons' the government of the United
States was loath to believe-it cannot
now bring itself to believe-that these
acts, though absolutely contrary to the
rules, the practices and the spirit NJ
modern warfare. could have the coun-
tenance OF or had the sanction OF that
great government. 1t feels IL TO be it's
duty' therefore, 10 address the Imper-
lal German government concerning
them with the utmost frankness. and
In the earnest hope that IL is not mis-
taken in expecting action on the part
OF the Imperial German government
which will correct the unfortunate i'm
pressions which have been created:
and vindicate once more the position
OF that government with regard TO the
sacred freedom of the sea.
The government OF the United
States has been apprised that the I'm
perial German government considered
themselves TO be Obliged by the extra
ordinary circumstances of the present
war and the measures adopted by their
adversary in seeking to cut Germany
ot from all comr'erce, TO adopt meth
oGs of retaliation which 20 much he
yond the ordinary methods of warfare
at sea, in the proclamation of war
zone, from which they have warned
neutral ships TO keep away.
This government has already taken
occasion to inform the Ilnp"rial Ger.
man government that IL cannot admit
The adoption OF such measures or such
warning Of danger TO operate as I'm
any degree an abbreViation of the
rights Of American shipmasters or
American citizens bound OF lawful err
rands as passengers on merchant
ships OF belligerent nationalities. and
that IL must hold the German govern
ment to a STRICT ACCOUNTABLE
ITY for any infringement OF those
rights. Intentional or unintentional.
at does not understand the Inner
ial German government TO question
those rights. n assumes on the CON
trary that the Imperial German gov
ernment accepts Of course the rule
that the lives OF non-combatants
whether they be of neutral citizenship
or citizens OF one Of the nations at
war. cannot lawfully or rightfullv be
put in jeopardy by the capture or de-
struction Of an unarmed merchantmen
and recognized also. as all other ma
tions do, the obligation to take the rs
ual precaution OF visit and search TO
ascertain whether a suspected mer-
chairman iN IN TACT OF beliigerent ma
tionality, or Is i'm fact carrying con
traband Of war under neutral flag.
THE government Of the United
states, therefore. desires to call the
attention Of the Imperial German gov
ernment, with the utmost earnestness.
to the fact that the objection to their
M