Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1915-06-18

- A1AN ~ NNl.ANAUNA VI A2
garding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo, Il need only be said
that In the view OF this government
these contentious are irrelevant to
the question OF the legality OF the
methods used by the German naval
authorities In sinking that vessel. But
the sinking OF passenger ships in
wolves principles of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances Of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases, princi-
ples~which lift It, as the imperial
government will no doubt be quick
to recognize and acknowledge, out Of
the class or ordinary subjects OF dip
lomatic discussions or OF international
controversy.
Whatever be the other facts regard
ing the Lusitania. the principal fact
is that a great steamer, primarily and
chiefly a conveyance for passengers,
and carrying more than a thousand
souls who had no part or lot in the
conduct of the war, was torpedoed and
sunk without so much as a challenge
or a warning, and that men. women
and children we're sent to their death
in circumstances unparalleled inmod-
ern warfare.
The fact that more than one hun
dred American citizens were among
those who persisted, made Vt 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 respon.
sibility which the government OF the
United States ~concSives that It has in
CURED in this tragic occurrence, and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
America Contends for all Humanity,
The government of the United
States is contending for something
much greater than mere rights OF
property or privileges of commerce.
II is c~ontending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights Of human.
ity, which every government hOnors
itself in respecting and which no gov.
eminent is Justified i'm resigning on
behalf Of those under its care and
authority.
Only her actual resistance to cap.
ture or refusal to stop when ordered
to do so for the purpose of visit could
have afforded the commander Of the
submarine any justification for so
much as putting the lives Of those on
board the ship in jeopardy.
This principle the government OF
the United States understands the ex.
plicit instructions issued on Aug. 3,
1914, by the imperial German admir-
atty to its commanders at sea to have
recognized and embodied, as do the
naval codes Of all other nations. and
upon 1t every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Willing to Act as intermediary.
1t is upon this principle of human
ity as well as upon the law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
The government of the United
States is happy to observe that your
eXcellency's note closes with the init
nation that the imperial German gov
eminent is willing, now as before, tc
accept the good offices of the United
States in an attempt to come to az
understanding with the government oil
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 a privilege
thus to serve its 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 anC
cordially invites the imperial German
government to make use Of its serv
ices in this way at its convenience.
Previous Representations Renewed.
The whole world is concerned il
anything that may bring about even 1
partial accommodation Oh interests o.
IN any way mitigate the terrors OF tn,
present distressing conflict.
In the meantime, Whatever arrange
ment may happily be made between
the parties to the war, and whateveI
may in the opinion of the imperia
German government have been Tn,
p~Govocation or the circumstahtial JUS
tificatlon Tor the past acts OF its com
manders at sea, the government o
the United States confidently looks {,
see the justice and humanity of tn,
government OF Germany indicated il
all cases where Americans have beer
wronged or their rights as neutrall
invaded.
The government of the United
States therefore very earnestly ant
very solemnly renews the representa-
lions Of its note transmitted to tn,
Imperial German government on tn,
10th OF May, and relies in these rep
reservations upon the principles o
humanity, the universally recognized
understandings of international Law
and the ancient friendship Of the Ger
man nation.
The government Of the United
States cannOt admit that the procla
nation of war zone from which neu
trail ships have been warned to keel
away, may be made to operate as II
any degree an ~abbrevlation Of tn,
rights either Of American ship mas
tiers or of American citizens bound OF
lawful errands as passengers on mer
chant ships Of b%elligerent nationality
Assurances as to Ships Asked.
1t does not understand the imperia
German government to question thos,
rights. 1t understands il, also, to ac
cept as established beyond question
the principle that the lives Of non
combatants cannot lawfully or wight
fully be put in jeopardy by the captur,
or destruction Of an unresisting mer
chairman, and to recognize the obliga
ton to take sufficient precaution I,
ascertain whether a suspected mer
chairman is in fact Of belligerent ma
tiOnality or is In fact carrying contra
band Of war under a neutral flag. Tn,
government Of the United States there
fore deems IL reasonable to expect tina.
the German imperial government vii
adopt the measures necessary to pu