El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-11

Of the imperial German government re-
garding the carriage Of contraband Of
wal on board the Lusitania or regard
ing the explosion Of that material by
the torpedo, IL need only be said that.
contentious are irrelevant to the qaes-
tion of the legality of the methods used
by the German naval authorizes in sink
ing that vessel
n Question of Humanity.
But the sinking Of passenger ships
involves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances Of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases; principles
which lift it, as the imperial German
government will no doubt be quick to
recognize and acknowledge, out Of the
class Of ordinary subjects Of diplomatic
discussion or international contro-
versy. Whatever be the other facts re-
garding the Lusitania. the principal fact
is that a great steamer, primarily aui
chiefly a conveyance for passengers
and carrying more than 1000 souls who
a no part or lot in-the conduct Of the
war, was torpedoed and sun without
so much as a challenge or a warning;
and that men, women and children
were sent to their death in circum-
stances unparalleled in modern warfare.
Second Solemn Warning.
The fact that more than 100 Ameri-
can citizens were among those who
persisted made it the duty Of the gov
eminent of the United States to speak
of these things and nee more, with
solemn emphasis, TO call the attention
of the imperial German government
to the raw responsibility which the
government of the United States con-
ceives it has incurred in this tragic oc-
curence, and to the in~disputable prin-
ciple Upon which that responsibility
rests.
Z. 5. Speaks for Humanity.
THE government Of . the United
States is ~cOntending for something
much greater than mere rights Of prop
erty or privileges Of commerce. II is
c-ontending for nothing less high and
sacred than the rights Of humanity,
which every government honOrs itself
in respecting and which no govern
ment is justified in resigning on be-
half Of those under its care and au-
thority.
"Oniy her actual resistance to cap
ture or refusal to stop when ordered to
do so for the purpose Of visit could
have afforded the commander OF the
submarine any justification for so much
as putting the lives Of those on board
the ship in jeopardy. This principle
the government Of the United States
understands the explicit Instructions
issued on August 3, 1919, by the i'm
perial German admiralty to its COM
manQeES at sea 10 nave ACAOEAA1NA anu
embodied, as do the ava codes OF all
other nations; and upon it every traF-
eler and seaman had a right to depend
It is upon this principle OF humanity,
as well as upon the law founded upon
this principle hat the United States
must stand.
L. :. Would Be Mediator.
The government Of the United states
is happy to observe that your excel
lency note closes with the intimauop
that h imperial government IS wiling
now as before. TO accept the good Of
fices of the United States in an attempt
to come to an understanding with the
government Of Great Britain by which
the character and conditions OF the war
upon h sea may be changed
"The government Of the United States
would consider it a privilege thus TO
serve its friends and the world. II
stands ready at any time to convey TO
either government any intimatiOn or
suggestion the other may be willing 10
have it convey n cordially invites the
imperial German government TO make
use OF its services in this way at its
convenience.
anything that may bring about even a
partial accommodation Of interests OF in
any way mitigate the terrOrs Of the
present distressing conflict
Hopes For Improvement.
In the meantime. whatever arrange
ment may happily be made between the
parties to the war. Il whatever nay
in the opinion of the imperial German
government, have been the prOvoca-
ton or the circumstantial justification
the past acts Of its commanders at
sea. the government of the United
confidently looks to see the JUS
tice and humanity Of the government OF
Germany Vindicated in all cases where
Americans nav been WrOnged or their
as neutrals invaded
L. 5. Renews Representations.
The government Of the United states
therefore very earnestly and very sol
reneWs the representations Of its
note transmitted TO the imperial Ger
government on the 18th Of May
and relies in these representations upon
the principles Of humanity. the univers-
ally recognized UNDERSTANDINGS OF IN
ternational law and the ancient friend
ship Of the German nation.
Summary Of L. 5. Contentious
"The government Of the United States
cannot admit that the proclamation Of
the war zone from which neutral ships
nave been warned to keep away, may be
made to operate as, in any degree, an
a~bbreviation Of the rights either CT
American ship masters or Of American
bound on LAWFUL errands as
passengers on merchant ships Of bel
ligerent nationality. It does not under
stand the imperial German government
question those rights.
1T understands il, also, to accept as
established beyond question the prin-
ciple that lives of nOncOmbatants eau
lawfully or rightfully be put in
jeopardy by the capture or destruction
Of an unresistng merchantmen and TO
recognize the obligation TO TAX SUI
ficient -precautiOn to ascertain whether
a suspected merchantmen is, in fact, OF
belligerent nationality or is, in fact