Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-13
i. S. TO DEMAND
THAT SUBMARINES
SPARE NEUTRALS
Full Reparation Will Be
Sought for American
Lusitania Victims. Z
ATTENTION ALSO CALLED
TO OTHER INCIDENTS
President Revises Document
Alone Before Sending 1t for
Delivery to Germany.
COUCHED IN FRIENDLY TONES
Makes Plain That Nothing Will Be
Left Undone to Obtain Com
pliance With Request.
ATTENTION ALSO CALLED
TO OTHER INCIDENTS
coUCHED IN FRIENDLY TONES

WASHINGTON, May 12.-The United
States. in a note to be sent to Ger
many tomorrow. demands guarantee
that there will be no further subrna-
rine attacks on merchant ships carry
ing noncombatants. 1t serves notice,
too. that full reparation will be sought
for the loss of more than 100 Ameri-
can lives in the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania, and for other violations of
American rights in the sea war zone.
While no indication is given of the
steps to be taken by the United States
in the event of an unfavorable reply,
the note informs Germany that the
American government will leave moth
ing undone, either In diplomatic repre-
sentations or other action, to obtain a
compliance with it's requests.
The document was to have been
cabled tonight. but the President. af-
ter conferences with Counselor Robert.
Lansing. of the State Department. made
several changes in legal detail, and
then revised 1t alone In his study. To-
morrow 1t will be dispatched. and 1t is
expected to be made public soon.
SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL
POINTS IN THE NOTE
No essential changes were made in
Sunday By the President and approved
by the Cabinet yesterday. The prin-
cipal points in the note are substan-
TALLY as follows:
1. The United States government
calls attention to the various Incidents
in the war zone proclaimed by Ger
many around the British Isles. the
sinking OF the British liner Falaba,
with the loss of Leon c. Thresher, an
American; the attack by German air
men on the American steamer Cushing,
the torpedoing without warning Of the
American steamer Gulfiight, and finally
the torpedoing without warning OF the
Lusitania, with it's loss of more than
1000 lives OF noncombatants. among
them more than 100 Americans.
2. These acts are declared to be in
dcfensible under international law.
The United States points out that it
never admitted Germanys right to do
them, and warned the imperial govern
ment that 1t would be held to a strict
accountability for attacks on American
vessels or lives. A strict accounting.
therefore. is now asked from Germany
3. The usual financial reparation will
be sought, although Germany Is in eff
feet reminded that no rcparation can
restore the lives of those sacrificed In
the sinking of the Lusitania and other
ships.
4. Expressions of regret may comply
with the legal precedents. but they ara
valueless unless accompanied by a ces-
sation Of the practices endangering
lives Of noncombatants.
5. The right OF neutrals to travel
any point of the high seas on neutral
or belligerent merchantmen is as
serted.
6. In the name Of humanity and in
ternational law. the United States de-
mands a guarantee that these rights
Will be respected. and that there be
no repetition of the attacks on NOR
chantmen carrying noncombatants.
Z. The giving of warnings to the
American public without officially COM
municatinG them to the United States
government is commented on in con-
nection with the German embassy's
printed advertisements before the sail
ing of the Lusitania. but. irrespective
of the failure to advise tho American
government Of Germany's purpose, the
point is made that notice OF an inten-
tion to do an unlawful act neither jus-
tifies nor legalizes it.
S. The suggestion is conveyed that
the German government. of course,
couio not nave intended to destroy
innocent lives, and that consequently
the German submarine commanders
must have misunderstood their instruc-
tions. The American government indi-
Gates it's hope that this will be found
to be true. and q cessation or the un-
lawful practices thereby will result
.. In conclusion. Germany's attention
Is called TO the earnestness OF tho gov
ernment and people OF the United
States in this situation. 1t Is made
plain that the United States will! leave
nothing undone either In diplomatic
representations or other action, to oh
tain a compliance by Germany TO the
requests made.
COUCHED IN FRIENDLY TONES.
BUT USMISTABABLY FIRM
The note throughout is couched in
friendly tones, but is unmistakably
firm. BY the suggestion that German
submarine commanders must have mis-
understood their Instructions, or that
the German government could not have
intended to destroy innocent lives. room
Is given for disavowal by Germany
OF the practices In the war zone and
an assurance that future attacks VIII
be prohibited.
In executive quarters Intense Interest