The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-06-18

g
of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage OF contraband
of war on board the Lusitania or re.
garding the explosion OF that material
by the torpedo II need only be said
that in the view OF this government
these contentious are irrelevant to the
question OF the legality OF the meth.
DDS used by the German naval au
thorities in sinking 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 to AFFECT the cases, principles
which lift IL, as the imperial German
government will no doubt be quick to
recognize and acknowledge. out Of
the class OF ordinary subjects OF diplo.
matte discussion or of International
controversy.
Whatever be the other facts re
garding the Lusitania the principal
fact Is that a great steamer, primarily
and chiefly a conveyance for passen.
gers and carrying more than thou.
sand souls, who had no part or lot I'm
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 I'm circumstances unpar.
alleled In modern warfare.
Loss Of American Lives.
THE fact that more than one hun.
dred American citizens were among
those who persisted made Il 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 conceiyes that II has
incurred in this tragic occurrence. and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
The government Of the United
States is contending for something
much greater than mere rights of
property or privileges of commerce.
II is contending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights of human.
.ty. WHICH every government hOnOrs
itself in respecting and which no gov.
eminent Is justified in resigning on
behalf of those under its care and au-
thority.
Only her actual resistance to cap
ture o. refusal TO stop, when ordered
10 do so far the purpose OF visit.
could have afforded the commander
Of the submarine any justification for
so much as putting the lives of those
on hoard the ship in jeopardy.
This principle. the government OF
the United States understands the ex-
plicit instructions issued on Aug. ,.
1914. by the imperial German admiral
" TO its commanders at sea TO have
recognized and embodied. as do the
naval codes OF all other nations. and
upon II every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Principle Of Humanity.
at is upon this principle OF human
ity as well as upon the law founded
upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
"Tl,e 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. to
accept the good Offices of the United
Stat in M IN IN
understanding with the government 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 II a privilege
world II stands ready at any time
to convey to either government any
htimation or suggestion the other
may be willing to have II convey and
cordially invites the imperial German
government TO make use of It's serv.
ices I'm this way at its convenience.
The whole world Is concerned in any.
thing that may bring about even a
partial accommodation OF interests or
in any way mitigate the terrors OF
the present distressing conflict.
Desires Wrongs Rishted.
''In the meantime, whatever ar.
rangement may happily be made be.
tween the parties TO the war. and
whatever may. 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 I'm all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
neutrals invaded.
"The government OF the United
States. therefore. very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-.
tions of its note transmitted to the
imperial German government on the
18th of May. and relies In these rep.
reservations upon the principles OF
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
neutral ships have been warned 70