The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1915-06-18

carry q cargo prohibited by the
statutes Of the United States, and
that if, in fact, she was a naval ves-
sci Of Great Britain she should not
receive clearance as a merchantmen,
and it performed that duty and en-
forced its statutes with scrupulous
vigilance through its regularly con-
stituted officials. It is able, there
fore, to assure the imperial German
that it has been misin-
formed.
aIf the imperial German govern
ment should deem itself to be in pos
session Of convincing evidence that the
officials Of the Government Of the
United States did not perform these
duties with thoroughness, the Gov
ernment Of the United States sin
cerely hopes that it will submit that
evidence for consideration.
Contentious Held Irrelevant.
"Whatever may be the contentious
of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage of contraband
Of war on board the Lusitania, or re-
garding the explosion Of that material
by torpedo, it need only be said that,
in the view of this Government, the
contentious are irrelevant to the ques-
ton Of the legality Of the methods
used by the German naval authori-
ties in sinking that vessel.
"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 govern
ment will no doubt be quick to recog-
nize and acknowledge, out of the class
Of ordinary subjects Of diplomatic dis
cussion or international controversy.
Whatever be the facts regarding the
Lusitania, the principal fact is that a
great steamer, primarily and chiefly
a conveyance for passengers and car
rying more than 1000 souls who had
no part or lot iii the conduct Of the
war, was torpedoed and sunk without
SO much as challenge or warning,
and that men, women and children
were sent to their death in circum-
stances unparalleled in modern war
fare.
Duty Owed to Humanity.
"The fact that more than 100 Amer
lean citizens were among those who
perished made it the duty Of the Gov
ernment of the United States to speal
Of these things, and once more, with
solemn emphasis, to call the atten'
tion of the imperial German govern.
ment to the grave responsibility which
the Government of the United State.
conceives that it has incurred in thi.
tragic occurrence and to the indis
putable principle upon which that re
sponsibility rests. The Government
Of the United States is contending fo
something much greater than mer
rights of property or privileges 0
commerce. It is contending for moth
ing less high and sacred than tn
rights Of humanity, which every gov
ernment henors itself in respecting
and which no government is justifie,
in resigning on behalf Of those unde
it's care and authority. Only he
actual resistance to capture or refusa
Ito stop when ordered to do so fo
the purpose Of visit could have af
forded the commander of the sub
marine any justification for SO mucl
as putting the lives of those on boart
the ship in jeopardy. This principl,
the Government Of the United States
understands the explicit instruction
issued on August 3, 1914, by the i'm
perial German Admiralty to its com
manders at sea to have recognized ant
embodied, as do the naval codes of al
other nations, and upon it ever.
traveller and seaman had right t,
depend. 1t is upon this principle O
humanity, as well as upon the Law
founded upon this principle, that tn
United States must stand.
"The Government Of the Unite,
States is happy to observe that You
Excellency's note closes with the in
timation that the imperial Germa
government is willing, now as before
to accept the good offices Of tn
United States in an attempt to com
to an understanding with the govern
ment Of Great Britain, by which tn
character and conditions of the wa
upon the sea may be changed. TIL
Government Of the United State
would consider it privilege thus
serve its friends and the world.
stands ready at any time to conve
to either government any intimatio
or suggestion the other may be vii
ing to have it convey, and cordial
invites the imperial German govern
ment to make use Of its services
this way at its convenience. II
whole world is concerned in anythin
that may bring about even partil
accommodation Of interests or in an
way mitigate the terrors Of the pre-
,, ent distressing conflict.
ain the meantime, whatever a
rangement may happily be made b
: tween the parties to the war, ar
whatever may in the opinion Of Il
imperial German government ha'
,, been the provocation or the circun
! stantial justification for the past &C
of its commanders at sea, the Cover
ment Of the United States confident