The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-06-17

nized and embodied, as do the naval
codes of all other nations, and upon it
every traveller and seamen had right
to depend. 1t is upon this principle of
humanity as well as upon the law
founded upon this principle that the
United States must stand.
U. S. Would Serve World.
"The government of the United
States is happy to observe that your
excellency's note closes with the in
timation that the imperial German
government is willing, now as before,
to accept the good offices of the
United States in an attempt to come
to an understanding with the govern
ment of Great Britain by which the
character and conditions of the war
upon the sea may be changed. The
government of the United States
would consider it privilege thus to
serve it friends and the world. 1t
stands ready at any time to convey to
either government any intimation or
suggestion the other may be willing
to have it convey and cordially invites
the imperial German government to
make use of its services in this way at
its convenience. The whole world is
concerned in anything that may bring
about even a partial accommodation of
interests or in any way mitigate the
terrors of the present distressing con-
flict.
VindicatiOn of Justice Expected.
"In the meantime, whatever ar
rangement may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war, and
whatever may be in the opinion of the
imperial German government have
been the provocation or the circum-
stantial justification for the past acts
of its commanders at sea, the govern
ment of the United States confidently
looks to see the justice and humanity
of the government of Germany vindi-
Gated in all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
neutrals invaded.
The government of the United
States therefore earnestly and very
solemnly renews the representations
of is note transmitted to the imperial
German government on the 18th of
May and relies in these representa-
tons upon the principles of humanity,
the universally recognized under
standings of international law and the
ancient friendship of the German ma
ton.
American Rights Upheld
"The government of the United
States cannot admit that the procla-
nation of a war zone from which neu-
trail ships have been warned to keep
away may be made to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights either of American shipmast-
ers or of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer
chant ships of belligerent nationality.
1t does not understand the imperial
German government to question those
rights. 1t understands it, also, to ac-
cept, as established beyond question,
the principle that the lives of nom
cambatants cannot lawfully or right~
fully be put in jeopardy by the cap
ture or destruction of an unresisting
merchantmen and to recognize the
obligation to take sufficient precau-
ton to ascertain whether a suspected
merchantmen is in fact of beligerent
nationality or is in fact carrying con-
traband of war under a neutral flag.
The government of the United States
therefore deems it reasonable to ex-
pect that the imperial German gov
eminent will adopt the measure nee
essary to put these principles into
practice in respect of the safeguard
ing of American lives and American
ships, and asks for assurances that
this will be done.
"ROERT LANSING,
"Secretary of State ad interim"