Mexico Missouri message., 1915-07-15
CITES CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE
UNITED STATES WILL BE PER-
MITTED TO USE SEA
DATES OF SAILINGS AND SHIPS CARGOES
Passes Over Lansngs Protest Concerning Sinking of the
Lusitania and Viii Make No Promises if
Demands Are Not Complied With.

Long before the beginning Of the
submarine war England practically
completely intercepted legitimate neu-
trail navigation to Germany also. Thus
Germany was driven to a submarine
war on trade.
On November IA, 1914, the English
Premier declared in the House of
Commons that it was one of Eng
lands principal tasks to prevent food
for the German population from reach
ing Germany via neutral ports.
Since March first England has been
taking from neutral ships without fur
ther Formally all merchandise COM
ing from Germany, even when neutral
property. Just as It was always with
the Beers, the German people are now
10 be given the choice OF perishing
from starvation with its women and
children or of relinquishing its indie
pendence.
While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, we were
conducting war in self-defense for
our national existence and for the
sake Of peace of an assured perma-
nency. We have been obliged to
adopt a submarine warfare to meet
the declared intentions of our enc
mics and the,method Of warfare adopt
ed by them IN contravention Of inter
national law.
Warned NeutraIs Might Suffer.
With all its efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger
man Government recognized unreserv-
eddy in its memorandum of February
4 that the interests Of neutrals might
| suffer from the submarine warfare.
However, the American Government
will also understand and appreciate
that in the fight for existence which
has been forced upon Germany by its
adversaries and announced by them 1t
IL the sacred duty of the Imperial
Government to do all within Its power
to protect aud save the lives OF Ger
man subjects.
n the Imperial Government were
derelict In these its duties, IL would
be guilty before God and history of
the violation of those principles of
highest humanity which are the foun-
dalton 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
adversaries leads.
In the most direct contradiction of
international law, all distinctions be-
tween merchantmen and war vessels
have been obliterated by the order
to British merchantmen to arm them
selves and to ram submarines and the
promise of rewards therefor, and neu-
trails who use merchantmen as trav-
elers thereby have been exposed in
an increasing degree to all the dan
gers Of war.
Could Not Warn the Lusltanla.
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 experiences in
sinking much smaller and less sea-
worthy vessels, 1t was to be expected
that a mighty ship like the Lust.
tania would remain above water long
enough even after the torpedoing to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats,
Circumstances of a very peculiar
kind, especially the presence on board
OF large quantities Of highly explos-
i've materials defeated this expecta,
ton. In addition, 1t may be pointed
out that IL the Lusitania had been
spared thousands Of cases Of NUM-.
lions would have been sent to Ger
many's enemies, and thereby thous.
ands of German mothers and children
robbed of breadwlnners.
In the spirit Of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm,
bued towards the Union and its inhab.
itants since the earliest days OF its
existence. the Imperial Government
always win be ready TO do all it can
during the present war also to pre-
vent the jeopardizlng of lives Of Am
erlcan citizens.
The Imperial Government, therefore
repeats the assurances that American
ships win not be hindered in the pros
e@~~~@sNNNNNNN~~ s~N~eN>~N~-e~~~
1 Pride.
"Is your boy ever at the head OF