The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-07-23


with the Beers, the German people
is now to be given the choice of per
ishing from starvation with its wo-
men and children or of relinquishing
its independence.
"While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mer-
cy until utter destruction, we were
conducting a war in self-defense for
our national existence and for the sake
of peace of an assured permanency.
We have been obliged to adopt sub.
marine warfare to meet the declared
intentions of our enemies and the
method of warfare adopted by them
in contravention of international law.
with all its efforts in princi-
pie to protect neutral life and proper
ty from damage as much as possible,
the German government recognized I'M
reservedly in its memorandum of Feb
ruary 4, that the interests of neutrals
might suffer from the submarine war
fare. However the American govern
ment will also understand and appre-
ciate that in the fight for existence
which has been forced upon Germany
by its adversaries and announced by
| them, it is the sacred duty of the i'm
perial government to do all within its
power to protect and save the lives OF
German subjects. If the imperial gov
eminent were derelict In these, its
duties, it would be guilty before God
and history, of the violation of those
principles OF highest humanity which
are the foundation of every national
existence.
THE case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what jeop-
ardizing of human lives the manner
of conducting war employed by our
Anniversaries leads. In the most direct
contradiction of international law,
all distinctions between merchantmen
and war vessels have been obliterated
by the order to British merchantmen
to arm themselves and to ram SUD
marines, and the promise of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantment as travellers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing degree
to all the dangers of war.
IF the commander Of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing a torpedo, this would have
meant the sure destruction of his own
vessel. After the experience of sink
ing much smaller and less seaworthy
vessels, it was to be expected that a
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough
even after the torpedoing to permit
passengers to enter the boats Cir
cumstances of very peculiar kind,
especially the presence on board Of
large quantities of highly explosive
materials (word omitted, possibly
"dissipated') this expectation. In ad-
dition 1t may be pointed out that II
the Lusitania had been spared, thou
sands of munitions would have been
sent to Germany's enemies and there
by thousands of German mothers
and children robbed of bread winners.
I'm the spirit of friendship, where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the union and its In
Inhabitants since the arliest days OF its
existence, the Imperial government
always will be ready to do all 1t can
during the present war to prevent
the jeapardizing Of lives of American
citizens. The Imperial government,
therefore, repeats the assurance that
American ships will not be hindered
in the prosecution of legitimate ship
ping and the lives of American citi-
zens in neutral vessels shall not be
placed in jeopardy.
an order to exclude any unforeseen
. dangers to American passenger
steamers, made possible in view OF the
conduct of maritime war by Ger
: many's adversaries, German subma
, rines will be instructed to permit the
, free and safe passage of such passen-
. ger steamers when made recognize
able by special markings and notified
a reasonable time in advance, The
+ Imperial government, however con
| fdently hopes that the American gov
+, eminent will assume to guarantee
+ that these vessels have no contra
+ band on board, details of arrangement
1 for the unhampered passage OF the
+ vessels to be agreed upon by the ma
e val authorities of both sides.
: "In order to furnish adequate ia
cilities for travel across the Atlantic
d for American citizens the German
a government submits for consideration
d a proposal to increase the number o
}. available steamers installing in pas
3. senger service reasonable numbe
Il of neutral steamers under the Amor
G lean flag, the exact number to b
o agreed upon under the same condi
e tions as the above mentioned Amer
e can steamers.
r. "The Imperial government believe
N It can assume that in this manna
IS ADEQUATE facilities for travel acros
e. the Atlantic coast can be ahorde
~ ,,,or;oor citizens There WOul(