East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-06-11

States, however, does not understand
that the imperial German government
is seeking in this case to relieve itself
Of liability but only intends to set
forth the circumstances which led the
commander of the submarine to allow
himself TO be hurried into the course
which he took.
status OF Lusltania Taken Up.
your Excellency's note, in discuss
ing the loss of American lives result
ing from the sinking Of the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length to
certain information which the imperial
German government has received with
regard to the character and outfit OF
that vessel. and your Excellency ex-
presses the fear that this information
may not have been brought to the at
tention of the government Of the
United States.
III is stated in the note that the
Lusitana was undoubtedly equipped
with masked guns, supplied with
trained gunners and special ammuni-
ton. transporting troops from Can
ada, carrying a cargo not permitted
under the laws Of the United States
TO vessel also carrying passengers
and serving. in virtual effect, as ar
auxiliary to the naval forces Of Grea
Britain. Fortunately these are mat
ters concerning which the governmen
Of the United States is in a position
to give the imperial German govern
ment official information. OF tn
facts alleged in Your Excellency'
note. if true the government Of th'
United states would have been bounC
to take official cognizance in per
forming its recognized duty as a neu
trail power and in enforcing its Ma
tional laws.
German Government MisinfOrmed.
1T was its duty to see to II tina
/ the Lusitania was not armed for of
fensiye action. that she was not sery
, Ing as a transport, that she did no
carry cargo prohibited by tn
statutes Of the United States, an
/ that If. in fact, she was a naval yes
sci of Great Britain she should no
| receive clearance as a merchantmen
and it performed that duty and en-
! forced its statutes with scrupulou
vigilance through its regularly con
stituted officials. It is able, there
| fore. TO assure the imperial Germa'
government that it has been misin
formed.
If the imperial German govern
ment should deem itself to be in pos
sess on Of convincing evidence that tn
officials of the government of tn
United States did not perform thes
duties with thoroughness. the gov
ernment Of the United States sin
cerely hopes that it will submit tina
evidence for consideration.
Contentious Held Irrelevant.
Whatever may be the contention
Of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage of contraban
of war on board the Lusitania, or re
garding the explosion of that materis
by torpedo. it need only be said thai
in the view of this government tn
contentious are irrelevant to the ques
ton of the legality of the method
used by the German naval authorI
ties in sinking that vessel.
"But the sinking of passenger ship
involves principles of humanity whic
throw into the background any specia
circumstances of detail that may b
thought to affect the cases-principle
which lift it. as the imperial govern
ment will no doubt be quick to recoe
nize and acknowledge out of the elias
of ordinary subjects Of diplomatic dis
cussion or international controvers'
Whatever be the facts regarding tn
Lusitania, the principal fact is that
great steamer, primarily and chiefl
a conveyance for passengers and cal