East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-05-14

Continued from page one
ing on May of the American vessel
Gulflight by a German submarine, as
a result of which two or more Am
erican citizens met their death; and,
finally, the torpedoing and sinking OF
the steamship Lusitania, constitute
series Of events which the govern
ment OF the United States has observ-
ed with growing concern, distress and
amazement.
Recalling the humane and en-
lightened attitude hitherto assumed
by the imperial German government
in matters Of international right. aud
particularly with regard to the free
dom Of the seas; having learned to
recognize the German views and the
German influence in the field of in
ternational obligation as always en-
gagged upon the side of justice and
humanity; and having understood the
instruction of the imperial German
government to its naval commanders
TO be upon the same plane of nU-
name action prescribed by the naval
codes Of other nations; the govern
ment Of the United States was ioath
to belieye-it can not now bring itself
to believe-that these acts, so abso-
lutely contrary to the rules, the Erac-
tice, and the spirit of modern warfaIe e,
could have the countenance or sane
tion Of that great government. 1t
feels it to be its duty therefore, to
address the imperial German govern
ment concerning them with the ut
most frankness, and in the earnest
hope that it is not mistaken in ex-
pecting action on the part of the i'm
perial German government which will
correct the unfortunate impre ,sions
which have been created, and vindi-
cate once more the position of that
government with regard to the sacred
freedom of the seas.
Must Not Jeopardize Non-combatants
''The government of the United
States has been apprised that the i'm
perial government considered them
selves to be obliged by the extraordi-
nary circumstances Of the present
war, and the measures adopted by
their adversaries in seeking to cut
Germany off from all commerce, to
adopt methods Of retaliation which
go much beyond the ordinary methods
of warfare at sea, in the proclamation
of war zone from which they have
warned neutral ships to keep away.
This government has already taken
occasion to inform the imperial Ger
man government that it can not 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 shipmasters or
of American Athens bound on lawful
errands as passengers on merchant
ships of belligerent nationality; and
that 1t must hold the imperial German
government to a strict accountability
for any infringement of those rights
intentional or incidental. II does not
understand the imperial German gov
ernment to question those rights. II
assumes on the contrary, that the inn
perial government accepts, as of
course, the rules that the lives of nom
combatants, whether they be Of neu-
trail citizenship or citizens of any OF
the nations at war, can not lawfully
or rightfully be put in Jeopardy by
the capture or destruction of an un.
armed merchantmen. and recognizes
also, as all other nations do the OBJ
legation to take the usual precaution
Of visit and search TO ascertain
whether suspected merchantmen is
in fact of beiligerent nationality or is
in fact carrying contraband Of war
under neutral flag.
Rules Of Justice violated.
"rhe government of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the
attention Of the imperial government