Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-05-21
Full Text OF President Wilson'S
Note To Germany.

au1DdSSaOOf at Berlin.
Please call on the minister of foreign
affairs, and after reading to him this COM
munication leave with him a copy.
In view of recent acts of the German
authorities in violation of American rights
on the high seas which eliminated in the
torpedoing and sinking of the British
steamship Lusitania on May 7. 1915, by
which over 100 American citizens lost
their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable
that the government of the United States
and the imperial government should come
to clear and full understanding as to the
grave situation which has resulted.
The sinking Of the British passenger
steamer Falaba by German submarine
on March 2S. through which Leon c.
Thrasher. an American citizen. was drown
ed; the attack, April %. on the American
vessel Cushing by a German aeroplane :;
the torpedoine on May Of the American
vessel Gulhight by a German submarine,
as result Of which two or more American
citizens met their death; and, finally, the
torpedoing and sinking Of the steamship
Lusitania. constitute a series Of events
which the government Of the United States
has observed with growing concern, dis
tress and amazement.
QUESTIONS WHETHER ORDER WAS GIVEN.
Recalling the humane and enlightened
attitude hitherto assumed by the imperial
German government in matters of inter-
national right. and particularly with regard
to the freedom Of the seas; having learned
to recognize the German views and the
German influence in the field of inter-
national obligations as always engaged
upon the side Of justice and humanity
and having understood the instructions of
the imperial German government to its
naval commanders to be upon the same
plane of human action prescribed by the
naval codes Of other nations. the govern
ment Of the United States was loath to
believe-it cannot now bring itself to be-
lieve-that these acts so absolutely con-
trary to the rules, the practices and the
spirit Of modern warfare. could have the
countenance or sanction of that great gov
eminent
1t feels it to be its duty. therefore, to ad-
dress the imperial German government
concerning them with the utmost frank
ness and in the earnest hope that il Is
not mistaken in expecting action on the
part Of the imperial German government
which will correct the unfortunate i'm
pressions which have been created and
vindicate once more the position of that
government with regard to the sacred free
dom of the seas.
MUST RESPECT LIVES Or NEUTRALs.
The government of the United States
has been apprised that the imperial Ger
man government considered themselves to
be Obliged by the extraordinary circum-
stances of the present war and the meas
ures adopted by their adversaries in seek
ing to cut Germany off from all commerce
to adopt methods Of retaliation which
60 much beyond the ordinary methods Of
warfare at sea, in the proclamation Of O
war zone from which they have warned
neutral ships to keep away.
This government has already taken occa
sion to inform the imperial German gov
eminent that it cannot admit the adoption
of such measures or such warning o
danger to operate as in any degree an alb
breviation Of the rights Of American ship
masters or of American citizens bound oil
lawful erands as passengers on merchan
ships of belligerant nationality; and tina
1t must hold the imperial German govern
ment to strict accountability for any in
fringement of those rights. intentional O
incidental. II does not understand tn
imperial German government to question
those rights.
1t assumes, on the contrary, that th
imperial German government accept, as O
course, the rule that the lives of noncom
batants. whether they be of neutral citi
zenship or citizens Of one of the nation
at war, cannot lawfully or rightfully be pu
in jeopardy by the capture or destruction
of an unarmed merchantmen. and recog
nize also. as all other nations do, the obi
cation to take the usual precaution Of visi
and search to ascertain whether sus
pected merchantmen is in fact of bellieer
ent nationality or is in fact carrying con
traband of war under a neutral flag
SUBMARINE USE UNLAWFUL
The government of the United State
therefore desires to call the attention O
the imperial German government with tn
utmost earnestness to the fact that tn
objection TO their present method of attac
against the trade of their enemies lies Il
the practical impossibility of employing
submarines in the destruction Of commerce,
without disreearding those rules of fair
ness. reason. justice and humanity which
all modern opinion regards as imperative
1t is practically impossible for the officer
Of a submarine to visit merchantmen a
sea and examine her papers and cargo I
is practically impossible for them to max,
prize Of her; and, If they cannot put
ptiLc NtCW VII UOdiu VI ntT, tnty cannO
sink her without leaving her crew and al
on board Of her to the mercy of the sea il
her small boats These facts, it is under
stood, the imperial German government
frankly admit.
We are Informed that in the instance,
Of which we have spoken time enough TO
even that poor measure Of safety was moi
given. and in at least two of the case,
cited not so much as a warning was re
ceived. Manifestly submarines cannot b,
used against merchantmen, as the last few
weeks have shown, without an inevitabl,
violation of many sacred principles o.
justice and humanity.
UPHoLDs RIGHTS Or AMERICANS.
American citizens act within their in
disputable rights in taking their ships ant
in travelling wherever their legitimate bu
n. ~. ~. L.