The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-05-14

Following Is the text Of the Amer
lean note 10 the imperial German
government. As given out last night
By the stnte department. following It's
delivery IN Berlin:
Department OF state. Washington.
May rs. 1915.
THE s~ecreiary or state "a the
American ambassador AT Berlin!
PLEASE call IN the minister Of for
elgn affairs and after reading TO him
this communication leave with him a
copy.
In view Of recent ncta Of the Ger
man authorities IN violation OF Amer
lean rights on the hiah seas. which
eliminated In she t0rpedoing and
sinking o. the British steamship Luz
sitania ON May Z. 1913, by which over
f0O American citizens lost their lives,
Il - clearly wise and desirable that
tho government ~ the United states
and the imperial German govern
ment should come To a clear and full
understanding az 10 the grave sltua-
ton which has resulted.
"rhe sinking Of The British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by n German sub
marine on March Is. through which
Leon G. Thresher. an American citi-
Ken. was drowned; the attack on
April rs on the American vessel Cush-
Ing BY a German aeroplane; the tor
! pedoing on May I OF the American
weasel Outright hy n German sub
marine. as n result OF which we or
more American citizens met their
death: and. finally, the torpedoing
and sinking Of the steamship LUSH
tania. constitute a series Of events
which the government Of the United
States has observed with growing
concern. distress and amusement.
"Recalllng the humane and en-
lightened attitude hitherto assumed
BY the imperial German government
IN matters OF international right. and
particularly with regard "a the free
dom OF the seas; having learned 10
recognize the German views and ne
German influence In the field u in
ternationai obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side OF justice and
humanity; and having understood the
Instructions % the imperial German
government 10 is naval commanders
10 be upon the same plane OF humane
action prescribed by the navai codes
OF other nations. The government OF
the United States ives loath To he
lieve-st cannot now bring iiFeif to
believe-that these acts. ~ absolutely
contrary 10 the rules. the practices
and the spirit OF modern warfare,
could have the c~9untenancc or sane
ton Of that great government. II
feels IL 10 be It's duty. therefore, TO
address the Imperial German govern
ment ~concerning them with the ut
most frankness and in the earnes,
hope that e IA not mistaken in ex-
, pecting action on the part % the i'm
perial government which WI correct
the unfortunate impressions which
have been crfhted. and yindlcaie once
more she potfian Of that government
with regard % the sacred freedom Of
the seas.
The government of the United
states has been npprised that the inn
perial German government conaid-
cred Themselves 10 be obliged by the
extraordinary circumstances Of the
present war. ana the measures adopt
ed by their adyersariea In Feeking "a
cut Germanyfo from ali commerce.
To adopt methods Of retaliation which
81 much beynnd the ordinary meth
DDS Of warfare at sea. In the procla-
nation Of a war zone from which
they have warned neutral ships I,
keep away. This government has al
ready taken occasion to inform th'
Imperial government that Il cannot
admit the adoption Of such measures
or such n warning OF danger to oper'
ate ~ in n degree in a%bbreylhtior
of the rights 81 American ship mas.
tiers or Of American citizens hound
on lawful errands as passengers 90
merchant ships Of h%eliigerent nation
ality; md that Il must hold the i'm,
perlal government 90 n strict account.
ability for n infringement u thos,
rights. intentional or accidental. u
does not understand the lmperia
German government 10 question thos,
rights. II assumes. on the contrary
that he imperial government accept
~ OF course, the rule that the live.
OF non-combatantG whether they b'
of neutral citizenship or citizens o.
any of the nations al war. cnnno
lawfully or rlshtfun be put In jeop
ardy by the capture or destruction u
an unnrmed merchantmen. and rec
ognize. also. as all other nations do
the obligation 10 take the usual pre-
caution OF visit and search 10 ascer
tain whether a suspected merchant
man IN In fact OF b%elligerent nation.
lnlity or IL IN fact carrying contrn'
band Of war under n Neutral flag.
The government OF the United
States therefore, desires 10 call th'
attention OF the imperial German
government with the utmost earnest
ness 10 the fact that the objection q
their present method OF nttdcl
against the trade Of their enemies liel
In the practical impossibility Of EN-
p%loying submarines In the destruction
Of commerce without disregardini
those rules Of fairness, reason, justice
and humanity which all modern opin
ION regards as imperative. n Is prac
tically impossible for the officers %
a submarine 20 visit a merchantmen
al sea and examine her papers an'
cargo. n h. practically impossible 70.
them 20 make Il prize at her. and.
they cannot put a prize crew on boar'
Of her. they cannot sink her withou
leaving her crew and all on board o
her 20 the mercy OF the sea In heI
small boats. These facts, u is under