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

Washington. June 1.-THE text Of
the American rejoinder to the Ger.
man governments reply TO the note
following the sinking OF the Lusitania
follows:
The secretary of state adj interim
10 the American ambassador to Ber-
lin.
Department OF state, Washington,
June .. 1915, TO the American ambas-
sador, Berlin. You are instructed TO
deliver textually the following note
10 the minister of foreign affairs:
In 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 II, and
your supplementary note OF June 1,
setting forth the conclusions so far
as reached by the imperial German
government concerning the attacks
on the American steamers Cushing
and Culfiight am now instructed
by my government to communicate
the following reply:
The government OF the United
States notes with qualification the
full recognition by the imperial Ger.
man government. in discussing the
cases OF the Gushing and the Gul
flight. OF the principle Of the freedom
Of all parts Of the open sea to neu.
trial ships and the frank willingness
OF the imperial German government
TO acknowledge and meet its liability
where the fact OF attack upon neutral
ships. which have not been guilty OF
any hostile act by German aircraft
or vessels of war. Is satisfactorily es.
tablished: and the government OF the
United States will. in due course. lay
before the imperial German govern
ment. as il requests. full information
concerning the attack on the steam
er Gushing.
Refers to Falaba Incident.
with regard TO the sinking of the
steamer Falaba. by which an Ameri-
can citizen lost his life. the govern
ment of the United States Is surprised
10 find the imperial German govern.
ment contending that an effort on the
part OF a merchantmen TO escape cap
ture and procure assistance alters the
obligation of the officer seeking TO
hn In A
safety OF the lives of those on board
the merchantmen, although the vessel
has ceased her attempt TO escape
when torpedoed.
These are not new circumstances.
They have been in the minds OF states
men and OF international jurists
throughout the development of naval
warfare and the government OF the
United tSates does not understand
that they have ever been held to alter
the principles OF humanity upon
which Il has insisted.
Nothing but actual forcible resist
ance or continued efforts to escape by
fight. when ordered TO stop for the
purpose of visit. on the part OF the
merchantmen, has ever been held to
forfeit the lives of its passengers or
crew
THE government OF the United
States. however. does not understand
that the imperial German government
is seeking I'm this case to relieve II.
self of liability, hut 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.
Sinking OF the lusitania.
Your eycellency'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 i'm.
perial government has received with
regard to the character and outfit OF
presses the fear that this Information
may not have been brought to the at
tention OF the government OF the Unit
ed States.
1T is stated In the note that the Lu-
sitania undoubtedly was equipped with
masked guns. supplied with trained
gunners and special ammunition.
transporting troops from Canada. car.
rying n cargo not permitted under the
laws OF the United States to a vessel
also carrying passengers and serv
ing. In virtual effect, as an auxiliary
to the naval forces of Great Britain.
Fortunately these are matters con
corning which the government OF the
United States Is In a position to give
the imperial German government off,
cial information. or the facts. alleged
In your excellency's note. II true, the
government of the United States
would have been bound to take official
cognizance in performing its recogniz-
ed duty as neutral power and in en-
forcing its national laws.
1t was its duty to see to II that
the Lusitania was not armed for of
fensiye action, that IL was not serving
as a transport. that II did not carry
cargo prohibited by the statutes oil
the United States. and that, II In fact
Il was a naval vessel OF Great Britain,
Il should not receive clearance as q
merchantmen: ami II performed that
duty and enforced its statutes with
scrupulous vigilance through its reg
lfIarly constituted officials