The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-05-13
Note On Lusitania S
Sinking Goes to Ber-
lin Tonight.
ASKS GUARANTEES
Germany Told to Proven,
Further Offenses Against
American Citizens.

States government, i'll IL note to Ger
many today, formally demands OF the
imperial aovcrnmcht IL strict account
ing for the loss of American lives i'm
1'i: sinking OF the Lusitania and the
Violations of American rights in tho
war zone.
The United States also asks guar
antics that there will be no repeti-
tion ai such events or practices. With
tho plain intimAtion that the United
States is prepared to meet any even
tuality arising from noncompliance.
inc communications. phraScd in UNI
miStakable emphatic language, was
prepared to be cablcd to Berlin by
night fall.
Written by the president, and APP
proved unanimously by the cabinet.
the note is being carefully examined
by Counsellor Lansing and the law
officers of the government and the
state department to make sure that
the phlaScolOgy has covered every
point involved.
The White House officially an
nounccd the fact that the president
had finally determined OH his course
of action, i'm the following statements:
'Thc course OF the president is
determined. 1t will be announced as
soon rs it is proper to publish the
note now i'll preparation.
This is taken to mean that the
American government. observing the
usual diplomatic. amenities, will
await the receipt of the communities
ion in Berlin before making it pub
lie.
While high officials arc rcticcnt to
discuss the contents of the note. it
is agreed that the note voices the in
tense feeling of the United States
over the occurrences i'm the war zone
and wants an explanation of them as
well rs Il guaranty that they will not
be repeated.
The communication lays stress on
the inhumanity of attacks, without
warning, on merchant vessels.
The note reviews in n general way
every case in the war zone i'll which
the rights of American citizens have
been transgrcsscd.
Attention is called to the fact that
while advertisements appeared I'm
newspapers that the United States
government never was officially in-
formed of it, but irrespective of that,
the position was taken that the scrv-
ing CT II notice to do an unlawful act
neither justifics il nor makes it law
ful.
Note to Germany Drafted.
Washington, ID. president VIII
son had practically decided last night
on the first steps in the policy which
the United States government VIII
pursue as the result of the sinking
pf the British liner Lusitania with
the loss of more than 100 American
lives.
The president will act promptly
within day or two A draft OF a
communication to be sent to Ger
many was submitted to the cablnet
yesterday and approved unanimous
ly. While no official announcement
was made, it was learned that the
United States would present and IN
sist upon an explanation OF the ser
les of incidents which have occurred
since the proclamation of war zone
around the British isles-the SINK
ing of the Falba. causing the death
of Leon C. Thresher. an American
citizen; the attack by German ar
men on the American steamer
Cushing; the torpedoins of the Amer
incan steamer Gulflight: and f1naliA
the destruction without warming o'
the I11sitania, with a toll OF more
than a thousand lives.
Terms Firm and CnmistakaDlc.
In what are described by tnose Ia
miliar with the document as hrn
and unmistakable terms the pres
dent voices the intense feeling OF
the United States over these happen
ings and in the name OF internatloha
law demands an adherence py 1er
many TO the established rules o
maritime warfare. The note ask
that some assurances or guaranty D'
given hereafter that unarmed mer
chant vessels, carrying non-combat
ants he visited and searched Wnei
encountered on the high seas by til
German navy and passengers am
crew transferred to place OF sale'
before any prize is destroyed.
The president points out 1t is oh
derstood. that the United States ha'
not admitted any right on the pal
of Germany to carry on any sue
methods of warfare and declares
moreover. that the giving OF o1flcla
notice of an intention to commit a
uniustifiable act does not justify th
act or make it lawful.
What will follow in the event OF
refusal by Germany to comply WI.
tho wishes of the note about to
sent no one of the president oi,ic,a
family would discuss. They sald I'll
nresident was determined to act nrh
Iy and deal with each situation as
arose. 1t was pointed out that IN u
speech in Philadelphia in referea'