Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-11

mander Of the submarine any
justification for so much as putting
the lives of those on board the ship
in jeopardy. This the government
of the United States understands
the explicit instructions issued on
Aug. 5. 1914. by the imperial Ger
man admiralty to its commanders
at sea, to have recognized and en-
bodied, as do the naval codes OF all
other nations, and upon 1T every
traveller and seaman had right to
depend. 1t is upon this principle
of humanity, as 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 excellency's note closes with
the intimation that the imperial
German government 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 conoi-
lions of the war upon the sea may
be changed. The government of
the United States would consider
it 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 it convey and cor
daily invites the imperial German
government to make use of its
services in this way at its con-
vauience. The whole world is con-
cerned in anything that may bring
about even a partial accommoda-
ton OF interests or in any way
mitigate the terrors of the present
distressing conflict
Can Not Recognize War Zone.
I'm the meantime, whatever ar
rangeulent may happily be made
between the parties to the war. and
whatever may in the opinion of
the imperial German government
have been the provocation or the
circumstartial justification for the
past acts of its commanders at sea,
the government of the United
States confidently looks to see the
eminent of Germany indicated in
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 repre-
sensations of it's note transmitted
TO the imperial German government
on the 18th day Of May. and relies
in these representations upon the
principles OF humanity, the uni
versally recognized understandings
of international law and the ancient
friendship OF the German nation.
The government OF the United
States can not admit that the proc
lamation of war zone from which
neutral ships have been warned to
keep away may be made to operate
as IN any degree an abbreviation
of the rights either Of American
shipmasters or Of American citizens
bound on lawful errands as passen-
gers on merchant ships Of belliger-
ent nationality. It does not under
stand the imperial government to
question those rights.
1T understands it, also, to accept
as established beyond question the
principle that the lives of non
combatants can not lawfully or
rightfully be put in jeopardy by the
capture or destruction of an I'm.
resisting merchantmen, and to rec.
ognize the obligation to take SUI
ficient precaution to ascertain
whether a suspected merchantmen
is in fact of belligerent nationality
or is in fact carrying contraband
Of war under neutral flag. The
government of the United States
therefore deems 1t reasonable to
expect that the imperial German
government will adopt the measures
necessary to put these principles
into practice in respect of the safe
guarding of American lives and
American ships, and asks for assur-
ances that this will be done.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State ad interim"