The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-05-25
Tuesday may IS, 1915
AMERICAS MESSAGE TO GER
MANY.

which our country has been
plunged by the sinking Of the
Lusitania and the drowning Of
twelve hundred non-combatants
Of whom a hundred we're Ameri-
can, we are fortunate in having
a man like Wilson at the head of
the natiOn-a man who can in
terpret the people at their best;
who understands their hearts
better than they themselves do,
OF at least can give tC their per-
manent feelings better expression
President Wilson has done that
IL his message to Germany ask
ing redress for the invasion of
our rights as a nation. 1t will
become a classic document in
statecraft. 1t has clearness and
CONCESSION with all the urbanity
of a master of the art of diplo-
macy, but underneath the sur
face is felt the lirmness of velvet
covered steel. The imperial
German government knows be-
yond misconstruction what our
attitude is. But there is no
playing to the galleries, ne ulti-
matum, no threats; even the
course which the president will
pursue in the unthinkable event
of refusal of redress is not an
ticipated. 1t is a statesmanly
address of one great nation that
has been deeply wronged by an
other, presented on the assump-
ton that the other nation is
governed by the same high ideals
that should actuate all nations
who come within the pale of civ
ilizatiOn.
But as a preliminary to firm
but polite statement of our
grievances and our expectations
from Germany President Wilson
appeals to the high ethical ideals
which have animated the imperial
policies in the past by recalling:
The humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government in
matters Of International right.
and particularly with regard to
the freedom of the seas: having
learned to regard the German
views and the German influence
in the field of International obli-
cation as always engaged upon
the side of justice and humanity"
But the rights for which this gov
eminent will omit no word or
act to safeguard" for its citizens
are embodied in the following
paragraph
American citizens act within
their indisputable rights in TAX
ing their ships and in travelling
Wherever Their legitimate business
calls them upon the high seas.
and exercise those rights in what
should be the we'll justified CO -
fidence that their lives will not
he endangered by acts done in
clear violence of universally &C
knowledged international obliga-
ton, and certainly in the conf
dence that their own government
will sustain them in the exercise
OF their right"
Moreover, the president does
not overlook the fact that there
is something more than Ameri-
can rights involved. There is
the even greater principle-the
fundamental rights of all human
ity. The president reminds the
imperial government that the
government of the United States:
Assumes that the imperial
German government accepts, of
course the rule that the lives of
nOn-cOmbatants, whether they be
OF neutral citizenship or citizens
OF any of the nations at war, ran
not lawfully or rightfully be put
in jeopardy by the capture or de-
structiOn of an unarmed mer-
chairman, and recognizes also,
as all other nations do, the obli-
cation to take the usual precau-
ton of visit and search to ascer-
tain whether the suspected mer-
is in fact carrying con-
traband of war under a neutral
flag"
Finally, in stating that the gov
eminent and people of the United
States look to the imperial Ger
man government will disavow the
he acts of which the government
)f the United States complains,
hat they will make reparation,
30 far as reparation is possible,
or injuries which are without
and that they will take