Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-15


asks the imperial government for as
surances that measures hereafter will
be adopted to safeguard American
lives and American ships" on the high
seas. The alternative in case of re-
fusal is not stated.
1t was this note to which William
Jennings Bryan refused to attach his
signature, resigning instead, his port
folio Of secretary of state and thereby
precipitating dramatic Cabinet crisis.
Robert Lansing, secretary of state ad
interim, signed the communication
which went forth with the approval of
President Wilson and his entire Cab
inet.
Friendly terms characterize the
document, which renews representa-
tons made in the American note that
reached Germany on May Is, after the
Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk,
with loss of more than 100 American
lives. The German government, it is
declared, must have been misinform-
ed" when 1t assumed that the Lusi-
tania carried guns, as official informa-
tion is at hand to corroborate the orr
ginal contention of the Washington
government that the Lusitania was an
unarmed passenger ship which, since
1t did not resist capture, could not be
sunk without transferring passengers
and crew to place of safety.
WHAT AMERICA EXPECTS.
The communication informs Ger
many that 1t is ION the principle of
humanity, as well as upon the law
founded upon this principle, that the
United States must stand" Oppor-
tunity is given to Germany to submit
any evidence that American officials
did not execute their tasks thoroughly
in inspecting the Lusitania before she
sailed, but the cardinal fact-that the
liner was given no warning and made
no resistance and was primarily a
passenger ship-the American gov
eminent declares throws Unto the
background any special circumstances
Of detail" and lifts the case "out of
the class of ordinary subjects of diplo-
matte discussion or international con-
troversy."
TEXT OF THE NOTE.
The text of the note follows:
'The Secretary of State, AID Interim
to the American Ambassador at
Berlin.
Department of State,
Washington, June 8, 1915.
American Ambassador, Berlin: You
are instructed to deliver textually the
following note to the Minister of For
eign Affairs:
I'm compliance with Your Excel
lency's request, did not fail to trans
nit to my government Immediately
upon their receipt, your note of May
2S, in reply to my note of May Is, and
your supplementary note of June /,
setting forth the conclusions so far
as reached by the Imperial German
Government concerning the attacks on
the American steamers Gushing and
Gulhight. | am now instructed by my
government to communicate the fol
lowing in reply:
The government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the Imperial German
Government, in discussing the cases of
the Gushing and the Gulfiight of the
principle Of the freedom OF all parts
of the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness of the Imperia,
German Government to acknowledge
and meet its liabilities where the fact
of attack upon neutral ships which
have not been guilty of any hostile
act by German aircraft vessels of war
is satisfactorily established, and the
Government of the United States will.
In due course, lay before the Imperial
German Government, as it requests,
full information concerning the attack
on the steamer Gushing.
THE FALABA CASE.
With regard to the sinking of the
steamer Falaba, by which an Ameri-
ment of the United States is surprised
to find the Imperial German Govern
ment contending that an effort on the
part of a merchantmen to escape cap
ture and secure assistance alters the
obligation of the officer seeking to
make the capture, in respect of the
safety of the lives of those on board
the merchantmen, although the vessel
had ceased her attempt to escape when
torpedoed. These are not new circum-
stances. They have been in the minds
of statesmen and of international
jurists throughout the development of
naval warfare. and the Government of
the United States does not understand
that they have ever been held to alter
the principles of humanity upon which
it has insisted. Nothing but actual
forcible resistance or continued efforts
to escape by fight when ordered to
stop for the purpose of visit on the