The midland journal., 1915-06-04
GERMANY CLAIMS JUSTIFICATION
FOR THE ACTS OF Her SUBMARINES
Expressing Regret For Loss OF Life On Lusitania,
II Holds That Ammunition Aboard Liner
Made 1t Fairly Subject To Attack.
WHAT THE UNITED STATES SAID
TO GERMANY.


TO GERMANY.
In it's note to the Imperial Gov
ernment OF Germany. under date
Of May 1S. the Government of the
United States said. in part:
'.This Government as
sumes . that the I'm
perial fGovernment accepts, as Of
course, the rule that the lives of
non -combatants. whether they be
of neutral citizenship Of citizens
of one of the nations at war, can
not lawfully or rightfully be put
in jeopardy by the capture or de-
struction of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognizing also, as all
other nations do, the obligation to
take the usual caution of visit
and search to ascertain whether q
suspected merchantmen is In fact
of belligerent nationality, or Is in
fact carrying contraband of war
under a neutral flag.
'sManifeetly, submarines cannot
DO used against merchantmen. as
the last few weeks have shown.
without an inevitable violation of
many sacred principles of Justice
and humanity.
1It Ethe Government OF the
United Statesl confidently ex-
poets. therefore. that the Imperial
German Government will disavow
the acts OF which the Government
Of the United States complains,
that they will make reparation 50
far as reparation is possible for
injuries which are without meas
ure, and that they will take imne-
dfate steps to prevent the recur-
renee Of anything so obviously
snbversive of the principles OF
warfare for which the Imperial
German Government have in the
past so wisely and so firmly con-
tended.
."The Imperial German Govern
ment win not expect the Govern
ment of the United States to omit
any word or any act necessary to
the performance of its sacred duty
Of maintaining the rights Of the
United Sattes and It's citizens and
safeguarding their free exercise
and enjoyment"
Berlin. In its reply to the note o
e United States Government, pre-
sting against the killing of Ameri
ms and the destruction of American
,operty by German submarines AM
Hing for cessation of submarine wal
re against MERCHANT shipping, tn,
erman Government claims that 1t i
stifieds in. prosecuting warfar'
,ainst commerce in this fashion, an,
ainly intimates that It has no inten
Dn of abandoning its submarine cam
IGN.
Regret is expressed for the loss o
res in the destruction, of the. Lusi
mia, but the claim Is made that tn
hiking of the liner was a iustifiabl
4 of self+defense.
Final Decision is Withheld.
~ "A
Suggesting that certain importan
cts having a direct bearing on tn
hiking of the LAsitania may hay
capped the attention of the America
overnment. the note proceeds to re
te these facts and recommend then
the attentive consideration Of tn
Government" and 4heI
ates that the German Government
Ill withhold its final decision on th
Of the American Government
,til a reply has been received fror
The following is the text of tn
,te:
"The undersigned has the honor t
lbmia 10 Ambassador Gerard the TO
wing answer to the communicable
May IS. regarding the injury I
merican interests through Germa.
ibmaitne warfare:
isclalme Desire To InJure NeutraI'
"The Imperial Government has sui
'cted the communication of tn
Government to a thoroug
1t entertains also
cen wish to cooperate In a frank an
-iendly way in clearing up possibl
Misunderstanding which may hav
risen in the relations between the tw
Overnments through the events mel
oned by the American Goverenmen
Regarding. firstly, the cases Of th
merican steamers Gushing and Gsil
ght. The American Embassy. hs
lready been informed that the &c
ian Government has no. intention (
neutral ships in the We
one, which are guilty of no hostil
cts. to attacks by a submarine or sul
larines or aviators. On the contrar
be German forces have repeated
cen instructed most specifically
Toid attacks on such ships.
'1f neutral ships in recent month
ave suffered through the German sd
1arine warfare. owing to mistakes