The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-11
THE NOTE TO GERMANY
Continued from page ~

(COntlnued from page J..
out of the class of the ordinary subjects
of diplomatic discussion or OF inter-
national controversy whatever be 9TH
er facts regarding the Lusitania, the
principal fact Is that the great steam
er, primarily and chiefly conveyance
for passengers, and carrying more
than thousand souls who had no
part in the conduct of war, was tor
radied and sunk without so much as
challenge or warning, and that men,
women and children were sent to
their death in circumstances unparal-
leled in modern warfare. The fact
that more than 100 American citizens
were among those who persisted, made
1t the duty of the government of the
United States to speak of these things
and once more, with solemn emphasis,
to call attention of the imperial Ger.
man government to the grave respon-
sibility which the government of the
United States conceives that it has
incurred in this tragic occurrence and
to indisputable principles upon which
that responsibility rests. The govern.
ment of the United States is contend
ing for something much greater than
mere rights of property or privileges
of commerce; it is contending for
nothing less high and sacred than the
rights of humanity, which every gov
eminent honorss itself in respecting
and which no government is justified
in resigning on behalf of those under
its care and authority. Only her &C.
tual resistance to capture or refusal
to stop when ordered to do so for pur.
pose of visit could have afforded the
commander of the submarine
any justification for so much
as putting the lives of those
on board the ship in Jeopardy.
This principle the government of the
United States understands explicit in.
structions issued on August 8, 1914,
by the imperial German admiralty to
it's commanders at sea to have recog-
nized and embodied, as do naval codes
of all other nations and upon this
principle of humanity 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 in
tfmation that the imperial German
government is willing now as before,
to accept the good Offices of the Unit
ed States in an attempt to come to
an understanding with the government
of Great. Britain by which the charac-
ter and conditions of the war upon
the sea may be changed The gov
eminent Of the United States would
consider It privilege thus to serve
it's friends and the world 1t stands
ready at any time to convey to either
government any intimation Or sug-
sestion the other may be willing to
have it convey and cordially invites
the imperial German government to
make use Of its service in this way
at its convenience. The whole world
is concerned in anything that may
bring about even partial accommo-
dation of interests or in any way
mitigate the terrors of the present
distressing conflict.
"In the meantime whatever ar
rangement may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war, and
whatever may in the opinion Of the
imperial German government have
been the provocation or the circum-
stantial justification for the past acts
Of It's commanders at sea. the govern
ment Of the United States confidently
looks to see the Justice and humanity
of the government ct Germany vindi-
Gated in all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
nautrals invaded.
1.-THE government of the United
States, therefore, very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the presentations
of its note transmitted to the imperial
o,,S No -
May and relies in these representa-
tions upon the principle of humanity
universally recognized, understandings
of international law, and ancient
friendship Of the German nation.
"The government of the United
States cannot admit that proclama-
trail ships have been warned to keep
any degree in abbreviation of the
rights either Of American shipmasters
or Of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships Of belligerent nationality.
It does not understand the imperial
German government to question those
rights. 1t understands it, also to ac-
cept as established beyond question the
pTuciple tudL lives Oh HpdtdHtS
cannot lawfully or rightfully be put
in jeopardy by capture Or destruction
of an unresisting merchantmen and
recognize obligation to take sufficient
precautions 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 States, therefore, deems It