Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-05-20
RESUME OF U. S. NOTE
PRESENTED TO GERMANY

N|n
ted States memorandum citing sea
attacks by the Germans, causing loss
Of life 70 neutral and asking hat the
nations come to an understanding re-
garding such matter wa sent
to Ambassador Gerard, at Berlin, who
handed it 10 the Foreign Office,
there. A copy was also sent to Court
Won Bernstorf, German Ambassador,
here, and to. the American ambassa-
doris at London, Paris and Petrograd-
The following is a resume Of the
American Note to Germany regarding
the sinking Of the Lusitania and other
ships, some American, and asking a
guarantee against the repetition Of
such a tragedy. In the very premise
Of the note is a phrase az is clearly
wise and desirable that the Govern
ment Of the nUited States and the
Imperial German Government SHOULD
come to a cdear and full understand
ing as to the grove situation which
has resulted"
The note continues that recogniz-
ing the hitherto humane and enlight-
ened attitude assumed by the Ger
man Government we are loath to be-
lieve that Government sanctioned the
attacks referred to. and expects that
Government to vindicate its positions
as regards the freedom Of the seas.
That this Government has appraised
the German Government that it can
not admit the adoption Of such meas
ures as adopted by the German Gov
eminent to ~abbreviate the rights of
American shipmasters or American
citizens bound on lawful errands as
passengers on belligerent ships. It
assumes on the contrary, that the
Imperial German Government ac-
cepts as Of course the rule that the
lives of the noncombatants, whether
they be of neutral citizenship or cit
liens of one of the nations at war,
cannot lawfully or rightfully be put
in jeopardy by the capture or des-
truction Of an unarmed merchant
man, and recognize also, as all other
nations do, the obligation to take the
usual precautien Of visit and search
to ascertain whether a suspected
merchantmen is in fact of b%elligerent
nationality or is in fact carrying con-
traband of war under a neutral flag.
Our objection to the present meth
DDS of the German Government lies in
the practical impossibility of employ
ing submarines in the destruction of
commerce without disregarding those
rules Of fairness, reason, justice and
humanity which all modern opinion
regards as imperative.
American citizens act within their
indisputable rights in taking their
ships and in travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas and exercise those
rights in what should be the well-jus-
titled confidence that their lives will
not be endangered by acts done in
clear violation Of universally ack-
nowledged international obligation
and certainly in the confidence that
their own Government will sustain
them in the exercise Of their rights.
In speaking of the warning pub
lished in papers of this country con-
corning the danger of travel on the
seas it says: no warning that an
unlawful and inhuman act, would be
committed al possibly be accepted
as an excuse or p~alliation for that
act or as an abatement Of the res
possibility for its commission.
1t confidently expects, therefore,
that the Imperial German Govern
ment will disayow the acts of which
the Government of the United States
complains; that they will make re-
paration SO far as reparation is pos
sible for injuries which are without
measure, and that they will take i'm
mediate steps to prevent the recur-
renee of anything so obviously sub
versive of the principles of warfare
for which the Imperial German Gov
ernment have in the past SO wisely
and so firmly commended.
Expressions of regret and offers Of
reparation in case of the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake,
while they may satisfy International
obligations if no loss of life results,
H THN e
cannot justify or excuse a practice
the natural and necessary effect Of
which is to subject neutral nations
and neutral persons to new and i'm
measurable risks.
The Imperial German Government
will not expect the Government of the
United States to omit any word or
act necessary to the performance of
its sacred duty of maintaining the
rights of the United States and its
citizens and Of safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment.
The note was signed by Secretary
Bryan.
MRS. j. O. DOWELL DEAD.
~ No. n n..-lI III a L.. 49,.