Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-06-11

plleit instructions issued on Aug. J.
1914. by the imperial German admir-
atty 70 It's commanders az sea 20 have
recognized and embodied. as do the
naval codes % ali other nations. and
upoa &, every traveller and seaman
had a riEh, 20 depend Il Is upon this
principle % humanity az well as upon
ths laW founded upon this principle
that the United States must stand.
Willing 60 Serve n n Mediator.
The government % the United
States - happy 20 observe that your
cxceilercy'a'a note closes with the in
tlanatloa that the imperial German
government - willing. now as before,
90 accrp; ire good o;ficea OF the United
States IN an attempt % come 20 an
matchmaking with the government OF
Great Britain BY which the character
ard conditions % the var upon the sea
may be changed.
The government % the United
states would consider Il a privilege
thus 90 serve Sc friends and the
world II stands ready AZ any time
20 convey 10 either government any
intlmafion or suggestion the other
NAY b. willing 20 have q convey and
cordially Invites che imperial German
government 90 make use OF It's ser
vices IN this way NJ is convenience.
The whole world - concerned in
anything that may bring about even a
partial accommodation % interests or
ln any way mitigate the terrors % the
present distressing conflict.
In the meantime. whatever ar
ranEsmsnt may happily be made be
tween the parties 90 the war. and
whatever may IN the opinion 81 the
imperial German government have
been the provocatiou or the circuri-
atantiai Justification for the past acts
% ita commanders a. sea. the govern
m~uf % the United States confidently
looks 20 see the Justice and humanity
o. tho government 81 Germany vindi-
Gated IN All cases where Americans
have been wronEcd or their rights as
neutrals invaded.
War Zone Cannot Stop Neutral Rights.
The government OF the United
States. therefore. very earnestly and
very soiemniy reneWs the representa-
lions % its note transmitted 20 the i'm
periai German government on the 18th
% May. and relies IN these represen-
tations upon the principles OF hu-
manlty. the universally recognized
% international Law.
and the ancient friendship OF the Ger
man nation.
The government % the United
States cannot admit that the procla-
nation % a war zone from which
~
keep away may be made 20 operate
az IN any degree an abbrcviation OF
the rights either % American ship T.
masters or % American citizens F.
bound on lawful crrands as passen- /
gers on merchant ships Of belligerentI
1T does not understand the imperial /
German government 90 question those I
rights. u understands d.. also. 90 ac- 1
cept a. established beyond question I
the principle that the lives OF uoncom- /
batants cannot lawfully or rightfully /
bs put In Jeopardy by the capture or (
destruction OF an unrcsistinE mer- f.
chairman. and 20 recognize the ubii- I
cation 20 take sufficient pTecaution 20 L
ascertain whether a suspected mcr-
chairman o. ia fact of bclligerent ma
,ionality or s. IN fact carrying con-
iraband o. war under a neutral fag.
The government o. the United
States. therefore. deems q reasonable
10 expect that the imperial German
will adopt the measures
20 put these principles into
practice in respect % the safeguard
.nE % American lives and American
ships. and asks Tor assurances that
this wiii be done.
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary % state ad interim"