Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-06-17

these contentious are irrelevant to
the question OF the legality Of the
methods used by the German naval
authorities in sinking that vessel.
But the sinking of passenger ships
involves principles Of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstance Of detail that may be
thought to affect the case, principles
which lift 1t, as the imperial govern.
ment will no doubt be quick to recog,
nize and acknowledge, out OF the
class of ordinary subjects of diplomat
ic discussion or OF international con-
troversy
Whatever be the other facts re-
garding the Lusitania, II Is true that
a great steamer, primarily and chief
ly a conveyance for passengers and
carrying more than thousand souls
who had no part or lot in the con-
duct OF the war, was torpedoed and
sunk without SO much as a challenge
or a warning, and that men, women
and children were sent to their death
in circumstances unparalleled In mod
ern warfare. The fact that more than
| 100 American citizens were among
those who persisted made 1t the duty
OF the government OF the United
States to speak OF these things and
once more, with solemn emphasis, to
call the attention of the imperial Ger
man government to the grave respons-
ibility which the government OF the
United States conceives that 1t has
incurred in this tragic occurrence, and
to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests.
THE government OF the United
States is contending for something
much greater than the mere rights Of
property or privileges Of commerce.
1t is contending for nothing less high
and sacred than the rights of human.
ity which every government honors
itself in respecting and which no gov
eminent is justified in resgning ON.
behalf of those under its care and au-
thority.
Only her actual resistance to cap.
ture or refusal to stop when ordered
to do SO for the purpose of visit could
have afforded the commander 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 August 3. 1914, by the i'm
perial German admiralty to its COM
manders at sea, to have recognized
and embodied, as do the naval codes
Of all other nations, and upon It ev-
cry traveller and seaman had a right
to depend. 1t is upon this principle
Of humanity, as well as upon the law
founded upon this principle that the
I United States must stand.
"The government OF the Uniteo
States is happy to observe that your
excellency's note closes with the in
timation that the imperial German
government is willing. now as before,
to accept the good offices of the Unit
ed States in an attempt to come to
an understanding with the govern
ment Of 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 1t privilege thus to
serve its friends and the world. II
stands ready at any time to convey
to either government any intimation
or suggestion the other may be will
ing to have II convey and cordially
invites the imperial German govern
ment to make use OF its services in
this way at its convenience. 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 pres
ent distressing conflict.
"In the meantime, whatever ar.
rangement may happily be made be-
tween the parties to the war, and
whatever may In the opinion of the
! imperial German government have
been the provocation or the circum-
stantial Justification for the past acts
Of its commanders at sea, the govern
ment Of the United States confidently
looks to see the justice and humanity
Of the government OF Germany vim
dicated in all cases where Americans
have been wronged or their rights as
neutrals invaded.
1.-THE government Of the United
States therefore very earnestly and
very solemnly renews the representa-
tions OF its note transmitted to the
imperial German government on the
18th day of May, and relies In these
representations upon the principles OF
humanity, the universally recognized
understandings of international law
and the ancient friendship of the
nation.
THE government of the United
| States cannot admit that the procla-
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 shipmasters
or OF American citizens bound on law
| full errands as passengers on merch-
ant ships of belligerent nationality. II
does not understand the imperial Ger
man government to question those
rights.
1T understands It, also. to accept
also as established beyond question
the principle that the lives OF nom
ombatants cannot lawfully or right
fully be put in jeopardy by the cap
ture or destruction Of an unresisting
merchantmen, and to recognize the
obligation to take sufficient precau-
ton to ascertain whether suspected
merchantmen 10 In fact Of belligerent
nationality or is in fact carrying con-
traband OF war under a neutral nag.