The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-16
NOTE MILD IN FORM
RENEWS REQUEST FOR ASSUR=
ANCE ASKED OF GERMANY
AMERICA ASKS JUSTICE

AMEkICA ASkS JUSlICE
Points Out Irreleyancy of Wilhelm.
strasse's Plea and Says Nation Will
Look for Safety of Its Citizens
Can not Admit Right to Endanger
Passengers on Beligerent Ships.
The United States in its latest note
to Germany, made public for publica-
ton Friday morning, formally asks
the Imperial government for assur-
ances that measures hereafter Will
be adopted to safeguarding American
lives and American ships on the high
seas. The alternative in case OF re-
fusal is not stated.
It was this note to which William
Jennings Bryan refused to attach his
signature, resigning instead his port
: folio of state, thereby precipitating a
dramatic cabinet crisis. Robert Ian
sing, secretary Of state ad interim,
signed the communication which
went forth with the approval of Pres
ident Wilson and his entire cabinet.
Friendly terms characterize the
document, which renews representa-
tions made in the American note OF
May Is after the LuSitania was tor-
pedoed and sunk. The German gov
ernment, it is declared, must have
been misinformed' when they aSsum-
ed that the Lusitania carried guns, as
official information is at hand to cor
roborate the original contention OF
the Washington government-that
the Lusitania was an unarmed pas
senger ship which. since 1t did not
resist capture, could not be sunk
without transferring passengers and
crew to place of safety.
The communication informs Ger
MANY that it is ION the principle o.
humanity as well as on the law
founded upon this principle that the
United States must stand. An oppor-
tunity is given to Germany to submit
any evidence that American officials
did not execute their tasks thorough
" in inspecting the Lusitania before
she sailed, but the cardinal fact that
the liner was given no warning and
made no resistance and was primarily
a passenger -ship-the American gov
ernment claims, throws into the back
ground any special circumstances OF,
detaip' and lifts the cause "out OF the
class of ordinary subjects OF dlplo-
matte discussion or of internationa.
controversy"
The text of the American rejoinder
to the German government reply tc
the note following the sinking of the
Lusitauia:
The secretary Of state ad interim
to the American ambassador at Ber-
lin:
Department of State,
Washington, June 8, 1918.
american Ambassador. Berlin:
You are instructed to deliver teNtual-
" the following note to the minister
Of foreign affairs:
sIn compliance with your Excel
lency's request did not fail to trans
NIT to my government Immediately
upon their receipt your note OF May
IS, in reply to my note OF May 10,
and your supplementary note of June
I. setting forth the conclusions so far
as reached by the Imperial govern
ment concerning the attacks on the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. I am now instructed by. my
government to communicate the fol-
lowing in reply:
ssThe government of the United
States notes with qualification the
full recognition by the Imperial Ger
man government, in discussing the
cases of the Cushing and the Gulf
light. of the freedom Of all parts OF
the open sea to neutral ships, and the
frank willingness Of the Imperial
German government to acknowledge
and meet it's liability where the fact
of attack upon neutral ships which
have not been guilty Of any hostile
act by German aircraft or vessels 0:
war is satisfactorily established: and
the government of the United States
will in due course lay before the I'M
perial German government, as II re-
quests, full information concerning
the attack on the steamer Cushing.
Sinking Of the Falaba.
with regard to the sinking of the
steamer Falaba, by which an Amerl-
can citizen lost his life, the govern
ment Of the United States is Surpris-
ed to find the Imperial government
contending that an effort on the part
of merchantmen to escape capture
and secure assistance alters the ooh-
CATION of the officer seeking to make
the capture in respect of the safety
of the lives Of those on board the
merchantmen, although the vessel
had ceased her attempts to escape
when torpedoed.
These are not new circumstances;
they have been in the minds OF states
men and of international jurlSts
throughout the development OF a
naval warfare, and the government
of the United States does not under
stand that they have ever been helc
to alter the principles of humanity
upon which it has insisted. Nothing
but actual forcible resistance or con,
tinued efforts to escape by fhsh'
when ordered to stop for the purpose
of visit on the part of the merchant
man has ever been held to forfeit the
lives of her passengers or crew
The government Of the lnlteo
States, however. does not understand
that the Imperial German govern
ment is seeking in this case to relieve
itself of liability. but only intends te
set forth the circumstances which lee
the commander of the submarine tc
allow himself to be hurried into the
course which he took.
Outfit of TuSifania
your Excellency's note in discuss
ing the loss Of American lives result
ing from the sinking of the steamship
Lnsitania adverts at some length t
certain information which the I'm
nerial German government has re
ceived with regard to the characte
and outfit of that vessel, and you.