The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-06-17

part OF the merchantmen has ever
been held to forfeit the lives of her
passengers or crew. The Govern
ment Of the United States, however,
does not understand that the Imperial
German Government is seeking in this
case, TO relieve itself Of liability, but
only intends to set forth the clrcum.
stances which led the commander Of
the submarine to allow himself TO be
hurried into the course which he took.
NO GUNS ON LUslTANlA.
Your Excellency's note, in discuss
ing the loss Of American lives result
ing from the sinking Of the steamship
Lusltania, adverts at some length to
certain information which the Imperial
German government has received with
regard to the character and outfit Of
that vessel, and your Excellency ex.
presses the fear that this information
may not have been brought to the at.
tention of the government of the
United States. II is stated in the note
that the Lusitania was undoubtedly
equipped with masked guns. supplied
with trained gunners and special am
munition, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying a corgo not permitted
under the laws OF the United States
to a vessel also carrying passengers,
and serving, in virtual effect, as an
auxiliary to the naval forces of Great
Britain. Fortunately these are mat
ters concerning which the government
Of the United States is in a position to
give the Imperial German Government
official information. OF the facts al
legged in Your EXcellency's note. II
true, the government OF the United
States would have been bound to take
official cognizance in performing its
recognized duty as a neutral power
and in enforcing its national laws. 1t
was its duty to see to Il that the Lusi-
tania was not armed for offensive
action, that she was not serving as
transport, that she did not carry a
cargo prohibited by the statutes Of the
United States, and that, in fact, she
was naval vessel of Great Britain,
she should not receive clearance as
merchantmen; and il performed that
duty and enforced its statutes with
scrupulous vigilance through its regu-
larly constituted officials. It is able.
therefore, to assure the Imperial Ger.
man Government that Il has been mis-
informed. II the Imperial German
Government should deem itself to be
in possession OF convincing evidence
that the officials Of the government
Of the United States did not perform
these duties with thoroughness, the
government Of the United States sin
cerely hopes that It will submit that
evidence for consideration.
IRRELEVANT CONVENTIONS.
Whatever may be the contentious
of the Imperial government regarding
the carriage OF contraband OF war on
board the Lusitania or regarding the
explosion Of that material by the tor
pedo, 1t need only be said that in the
view Of this government these conten-
tons are irrelevant 10 the question Of
the legality Of the methods used by
the German naval authorities in sink
ing the vessel.
But the sinking Of passenger ships
involves principles of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances OF detail that may be
thought 10 affect the cases, principles
which lift IT, as the Imperial German
government will no doubt be quick 10
-ecognize and acknowledge, out Of the
lass Of ordinary subjects Of diplomatic
discussion or OF International contro-
yersy Whatever be the other facts
regarding the Lusitania, the principal
act Is that a great steamer, primarily
and chiefly a conveyance for passen-
gers and carrying more than a thou
and souls who had no part or lot In
the conduct OF the war was torpedoed
and sunk without so much as a chal-
lenge or a warning, and that men,
women and children were sent to their
death in circumstances unparalleled In
modern warfare The fact that more
than 100 American citizens were
among those who perished made It the
duty Of the government Of the United
States to speak Of these things and
once more, with solemn emphasis, TO
call the attention Of the Imperial Ger
man government to the grave responsi-
bility which the government of the
United States conceives that ii has in
CURED in this tragic occurrence and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
ON GROUND OF HUMANITY.
The government of the United
States is contending for something
much greater than mere rights of prop.
erty or privileges of commerce-it is
contending for nothing less high and
sacred than the rights of humanity,
which every government honors itself
in respecting and which no govern
ment is justified in resigning on behalf
Of those under its care and authority.