The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-06-11
American Lives and Rights
Must Be S afeguardyed,
Presid emf Says.
NOT ARMED.
Mediation offered Warning
Natl urther Dis
cussion Invited.

y . b f.
WASHINGTON June following
is the text OF the note of President
Wilson to Germany:
american Ambassador, Berlin:
"You are instructed to deliver the
following note to the ministry Of Ger
many:
"In compliance with your excellen-
cy's request. / did not fail,to transmit
to my government Immediately upon
their. receipt your note OF May 2S In
reply to my note OF May 10 and the
supplementary note of June Is, setting
forth the conclusions so far as con-
Germs the German imperial govern
ment concerning the attack on the
American ships Cushing and Guihight.
l am now instructed by my govern.
ment to communicate the following in
reply: a..
"The Government of the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition Of the imperial German
government, in discussing the matter
Of the Cushing and Gulfiight. Of the
principal OF freedom of all parts Of the
open sea to neutral ships and the will
lfngness OF the imperial German gov
eminent to acknowledge its liability
for the fact of attack upon neutral
ships which have not been guilty OF
any hostile act, by; German air craft or
yeselsof war is satisfactorily estab
lished, and the Government OF the
United States will. in due course, be-
fore the imperial German govenrn.
ment as 1t requests, full information
concerning the attack OF the steamer
Gushing. = 49,
steamer Falaba, by which an Ameri;
can citizen lost his life, the Govern:
ment Of the United States Is surprised
to find the imperial German govern
ment contending that efforts upon the
part of the merchantmen to escaps
and: secure assistance, alters the obli-
cation Of the officer seeking to make
the CAPTURE, in respect to the safety Of
the lives OF those on board the merr
chairman, although the vessel mad
ceased her attempts to escape when
torpedoed. These are not new cir
,cunstances They have been IN the
minds Of statemen and OF tnternatlon-
nj irrists troughout the development
of naval warfare, and the Government
Of the United States does not under
stand that they have. ever been COM
nelied to offer the principals OF human
ftyjupon which 1t has insisted, because
a 4 ,nerchantman continues to try to
escaue when ordered to stop has ever
been held to forfeit the lives OF her
passengers or crew. The Government
Of the United States, however, does
not understand that the German gov
eminent is attempting to relieve itself
Of liability, but simply is attempting to
state the ctrcums stances which led the
commando OF the submarine to allow
himself to be hurried into the course
which. he took.
"Your excellency's note, IN discuss
ing the loss OF American lives result
ing from the sinking Of the steamship
.Lusitania averts to some length TO IN
formation which the imperial German
government has received as to the
character and outfit Of that vessel, and
your excellency expresses the view
mat this information may not have
!heen5 brought to the attention OF the
Government OF the United States. II
Is stated in the note that the LusitanIa
was undoubtedly equipped with mask
ed guns supplied with three gunners
and special ammunition, Transporting
.troops from Canada carrying cargo
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