The Mankato free press., 1915-05-21
OBJECTS TO WARFARE
CARRIED ON NEUTRALs
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
Fror, Fridays Daily

Washington, May 1.-THE full text
Of the American note To the German
government, which was made public
hy the state department, follows:
Department of State, Washington.
May i3. 1915. The secretary OF state
to the American ambassador at Ber.
lin.
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 authorities I'm violation of Ameri-
can rights on the high seas. which
eliminated in the torpedoing and sink
ing OF the British steamer Lusitania
on May {. 1918. by which more than
loo American citizens lost their lives,
il is clearly wise and desirable that
the government of the United States
and the imperial German government
should come to a clear and full un-
derstanding as to the grave situation
which has resulted.
The sinking of the British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by a German sub
marine on March 2S. through which
Leon {. Thrasher. an American citi-
zen. was drowned the attack on April
2S on the American vessel Gushing by
German aeroplane. the torpedoing
on May l of the American vessel Gul-
fight by a German submarine, as a
result OF which two or more American
citizens met their death; and. finally,
the torpedoing and sinking of the LrI-
sitania, constitute series of events
which the government of the United
States has observed with growing
concern. distress and amazement.
Recalls Humane Attitude.
Recalling the humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government i'm mat
tprs OF international right and par
ticularly with regard to the freedom
OF the seas: having learned to recog-
niZr the German views and the Ger
man influence in the field of interna-
tional obligation as always engaged
upon the side OF justice and human
ity: and having understood the in
stTuctions OF the imperial German
government TO its naval commanders
TO be upon the same plane OF humane
action. prescribed by the naval code
OF other nations. the government OF
lieyC that these acts so absolutely
contrary 10 the rules. the practices
and the spirit of modern warfare,
could have the countenance or sane
tion OF that great government.
The government of the United
States feels II to be it's duty. there
fore. to address the imperial German
government concerning them with
the utmost frankness and in the
earnest hope that II is not mistaken
in expecting action on the part of the
imperial German government which
will correct the unfortunate impress
sions which have been created and
vindicate once more the position of
that government with regard to the
sacred freedom of the seas.
The government of the United
States has been apprised that the i'm
perial German government consider
ed themselves to be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances OF the
present war and the measures adopt
cd by their adversaries. in seeking to
cut, Germany of from all commerce.
IN adopt methods of retaliation which
20 much beyond the ordinary methods
of warfare at sea. in the proclamation
of a war zone from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
Holds Germany to Blame.
This government has already taxi
en- occasion to inform the imperial
Eerman government that II cannot ad.
nit the adoption of such measures or
such a warning OF danger to operate
as in any degree an abbreviation OF
the rights OF American ship masters
or OF American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships of belligerent nationality,
and that II must hold the imperial
countability for any infringement on
these rights. intentional or incidental.
The American government does not
understand the imperial German gov
ernmert to question these rights: as
sumes on the contrary, that the i'm
perial German government. accepts.
OF course, the rule that the lives o.
noncombatants, whether they be OF
neutral citizenship. or citizens OF one
OF the nations at war. can not lawful.
ly or rightfully be put in jeopardy
by the capture or destruction of an
unarmed merchantmen, and recbg-
nizes also. as all other nations do. the
obligation to take the usual precau.
tlon OF visit and search to ascertain
whether a suspected merchantmen is
in fact of belligerent nationality or Is
in fact carrying contraband of war
under a neutral flag.
The government of the United Statsa
therefore, desires TO call the attention
OF the imperial German government
with the utmost earnestness to the
fact that the objection to their pres
ent method of attack against the trade
of their enemies lies in the practical
impossibility OF employing subma.
rines I'm the destruction of commerce
without disregarding those rules OF
fairness, reason, justice and humanity
which all modern opinion regards as