The Keota news., 1915-06-18

NEWS.
This principle the government OF
the United States understands the e1'
plicit instructions issued on Aug. o.
1914. by the imperial German admir-
altv to its commanders at sea TO nave
recognized and embodied. as DO the
navel codes of all other nations, ana
upon It every traveller and seaman
had a right to depend.
Willing to Act AZ intermediary.
It is upon this principle OF human.
ity as we'll as upon the law loundeo
upon this principle that the United
States must stand.
The government OF the Unlteo
States is happy to observe tnat your
excellency's note closes with the lntl'
nation that the imperial German gov
ernment 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 or
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 privilege
thus to serve it's friends and the
world. It stands ready at any time
to convey to either government any
intimation or suggestion the other
may be willing to have It convey and
cordially invites the imperial German
government to make use Of its serv-
ices in this way at its convenience.
Previous Representation Renewed:
The whole world is concerned In
anything that may bring about even
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
provocation or the circumstaLtial JUS
tification 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 vindlcated 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 representa-
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 the frocla-
nation Of war zone from which neu.
trail ships have 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.
It does not understand the imperial
German government to question those
rights. It understands 1t, also, to &C.
cept az established beyond question
the principle that the lives of non.
combatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the capture
or destruction Of an unresisting mer-
chairman, and to recognize the obliga-
ton to take sufficient precaution to
ascertain whether suspected mer-
chantmaQ is in fact Of belligerent ma
tionality or Is in fact carrying contra
band of war under neutral flag. The
government Of the United States there.
fore deems 1t reasonable to expect that
the German imperial government will
adopt the measures necessary to put
these principles into practice in re-