, 1915-06-17
submit that evidence for considera-

regarding the carriage of contraband
OF war on board the Lusitania or re-
garding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo. it 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. Blu
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-
pies which lift it, as the imperial
government will no doubt be quick
to recognize n 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 a 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 were sem to their death
in circumstances unparalleled in mod
ern warfare.
The fact that more than one hun
dred American citizens were among
those who persisted, made 1t 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 conceives that 1t 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.
1t is ~contending for nothing less high
and sacred thar the rights OF human
ity, which every government honors
itself in respecting and which no gov
eminent Is justified in %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 it every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Willing to Act as intermediary.
1t is upon this principle OF human.
ity Is 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
e~xcellency'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
states in an attempt to come to an
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 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 1t convey and
cordially invites the imperial German
government to make use Of its serv-
Ices in this way at its convenience.
Previous Represe ntations Renewed.
The whole world is concerned in
anything that may bring about even a
partial accommodation of interests or
IN any way mitigate the terrors OF the
present distressing conflict.
In the meantime, whatever arrange
ment may happily be made between
the parties to the war, and whatever
may in the opinion OF the imperial
German government have been the
p~roVocation or the circumstantial JUS
LITIGATION for the past acts of its COM
manders at sea, the government of
the United States confidently looks to
see the justice and humanity of the
government of Germany indicated in
all cases where Americans have been
wronged or their rights as neutrals
invaded.
h government of the United
States therefore very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-
tons 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 tha nrocIa.
nation of war zone from which neu.
trail ships nave been warned to keep
away, may be made to operate as in
any degree an abbreviation of the
rights either OF American ship mas
ters or Of American citizens bound on
lawful errands as passengers on mer-
chant ships of belligerent nationality.
Assurances as to Ships Asked.