Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-06-18
| Wilson's NOTE To
| GERMANY IS FIRM
WHILE FRIENDLY IN IT'S TERMS
INSISTS UPON PROTECTION
FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS.
The united States Formally Asks Ger.
many for Assurances That Meas
ures Will Be Adopted to safe.
guard Lives and SHIPS.

Washington.-The United States IN
It's latest note to Germany. made pub
lic on June 10. formally asks the ina.
perial government for assurance that
measures hereafter will be adopted to
safeguard American lives and Amer
lean ships" on the high seas. The al.
tentative in case Of refusal is not
stated
II was this note to which William
Jennings Bryan refused TO attach his
signature. resigning instead his port
folio, Of secretary Of state. and there
by precipitating dramatic cabinet
crisis. Robert Lansing, secretary OF
state sd interim, signed the communi-
cation, which went forth with the ap-
provai Of the president and his entire
cabinet.
The text Of the American rejoinder
10 the German governments reply to
the note following the sinking OF the
Lusitania follows:
The secretary Of state ad interim to
the American ambassador to Berlin:
Department OF State,
Washington, June 9, 1915.
American ambassador, Berlin: You
are instructed 70 deliver textuaIly the
following note to the minister OF for.
eign affairs:
I'm compliance with your excel
lency's request did not fail to trans
init to my government Immediately
upon their receipt your note of May
rs, In reply TO my note OF May rs,
and your supplementary note OF June
\. setting forth the conclusions SO far
as reached by the imperial German
government concerning the attacks on
the American steamers Cushing and
Guihight. am now instructed BY my
government to communicate the fol.
lowing in reply:
"The government OF the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government, In discussing the cases Of
the Gushing and the Gu1fiight, OF the
principle OF the freedom OF all parts
Of the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness OF the imperial
government to acknowledge and meet
its liability where the fact OF attack
upon neutral ships which have been
guilty Of any hostile act by German
aircraft or vessels of war is satisfac-
torily established, and the government
OF the United States will In due course
lay before the imperial German gov
eTnment, as 1t requests, full infOrma-
ton concerning the attack on the
steamer Cushing.
With regard to the sinking Of the
steamer Falaba, by which an Amer
lean citizen lost his life, the govern
ment Of the United States is surprised
to ind the imperial German govern
ment contending that an effort on the
part Of merchantmen to escape cap
tuTe and secure assistance, alters the
obligation Of the officer seeking to
make the capture in respect OF the
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 statesmen and OF inter-
national jurists throughout the devel-
Opment Of naval warfare, and the gov
eminent of the United States does
not understand that they have ever
been held to alter the principles Of
humanity upon which 1t has insisted.
Nothing but actual forcible resistance
or continued efforts to escape by
flight when ordered to stop for the
purpose Of visit on the part OF the
merchantmen has ever been held to
forfeit the lives OF her passengers or
crew. The government OF the United
States, however, does not understand
that the imperial German govern
ment 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.
Your excellency's note, In discus
sing the loss of American Hives result
ing from the sinking of the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length to
certain information which the iInpe-
rial German government has received
with regard to the character and out
tit Of that vessel, and your excellency
expresses the fear that this fnforma-
ton may not have been brought to
the attention Of the government OF the
United States. Il is stated In the note
that the Lusitania was undoubtedly
equipped with masked guns, supplied
with trained gunners and special am
munition, transporting troops from
Canada, carrying a cargo not permit.
ted under the laws of the United
States to vessel also carrying pas
sengers, and serving. in virtual effect
as an auxiliary to the naval forces of
Great Britain. Fortunately these are
matters concerning which the govern
ment OF the United States is in a p0s
sition to give the imperial German
government official information. OF
the facts alleged In your excellencys
note. II true. the government of the
United States would have been bound
TO take official cognizance In perform
Ing its recognized duty as a neutral
power and in enforcing its national
laws. 1t was its duty to see to it that
the Lusitania was not armed for often
sive action; that she was not serving
as a transport: that she did not carry
cargo prohibited by the statutes Of
the United States, and fhat, II in fact
she was a naval vessel Of Great Brit
ain, she Bhoala not receive clearance
IS 3 merchantmen; and II performed
that duty and enforced its statutes
with acrapuloUs vigilance through It's
regularly constituted officials II is
able. there snFe. to assure the impe-
rial German, government that II has
been miainformed. II the impeE lal
German government should deem ~
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