The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-18

the United States understands the e.-
plicit instructions issued on Aug. 3,
1914. by the imperial German admir-
atty to its commanders at sea to have
recognized and embodied, as do the
naval codes of all other nations, and
upon it every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Willing to Act as Intermediary.
1t is upon this principle of human
ity as we'll as upon the law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
The government OF the United
States is happy to observe that your
excellency's note closes with the init
nation that the imperial German gov
ernment is willing, now as before, to
accept the good offices 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 the
sea may be changed.
The government Of the United
States would consider 1t a privilege
thus to serve its friends and the
world. 1t stands ready at any time
to convey to either government any
intimation or suggestion the other
may be willing to have it convey and
cordially invites the imperial German
government to make use of it's serv-
ices in this way at its convenience.
Previous Representations Renewed.
The whole world is concerned in
anything that may bring about even a
partial accommodation OF interests or
III any way mitigate the terrors of the
present distressing conflict.
In the meantime, whatever arrange
ment may happily be made between
the parties to the war, and whatever
may i'll the opinion OF the imperial
German government have been the
proyocation or the circumstaLtial JUS
tification for the past acts of its COM
manders at sea, the government Of
the United States confidently looks to
see the justice and humanity of the
government Of Germany indicated in
all cases where Americans have been
wronged or their rights as neutrals
invaded. -EA
The government of the United
States therefore very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-
tions of it's note transmitted to the
imperial German government on the
18th of May, and relies in these rep.
reservations upon the principles of
humanity, the universally recognized
understandings of International law
and the ancient friendship of the Ger
man nation.
The government Of the United
States cannot admit that the procla-
nation of war zone from which neu-
trail ships have been warned to keep
away, may be made to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights either of American ship mas
ters or Of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships of belligerent nationality.
Assurances as to Ships Asked.
It does not understand the imperial
German government to question those
rights. 1t understands it, also, to &C.
cept as established beyond question
the principle that the lives of non
combatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture
or destruction Of an unresisting mer-
chairman, and to recognize the obliga-
ton to take sufficient precaution to
ascertain whether suspected mer-
chantman is in fact of belligerent ma
tionality or is in fact carrying contra
band of war under neutral flag. The
government of the United States there
fore deems it reasonable to expect that
the German imperial government will
adopt the measures necessary to put
these principles into practice in re-
spect of the safeguarding of American
lives and American ships, and asks for
assurances that this will be done.
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State ad interim.