W. J. Bryan on the Lusitania
Department of State, Washington, May 13, 1915
To
Ambassador Gerard:
Please
call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after reading to him this
communication leave with him a copy.
In
view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights
on the high seas which culminated 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 German Government should come to a clear and full
understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted.
The
sinking of the British passenger steamer Falaba by a
German submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American citizen,
was drowned; the attack on April 28 on the American vessel Cushing by a German aeroplane; the torpedoing on May 1 of the American vessel Gulflight by a German submarine, as a 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,
distress, and amazement.
Recalling
the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the Imperial German
Government in matters of international 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 international obligation 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 Government of
the United States was loath to believe -- it cannot now bring itself to believe
-- that these acts, so absolutely contrary to the rules, the practices, and the
spirit of modern warfare, could have the countenance or sanction of that great
Government. It feels it to be its duty, therefore, to address the Imperial
German Government concerning them with the utmost frankness and in the earnest
hope that it is not mistaken in expecting action on the part of the Imperial
German Government which will correct the unfortunate impressions which have
been created and vindicate once more the position of that Government with
regard to the sacred freedom of the seas.
The
Government of the United States has been apprised that the Imperial German
Government considered themselves to be obliged by the extraordinary
circumstances of the present war and the measures adopted by their adversaries
in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to adopt methods of
retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary methods of warfare at sea, in the
proclamation of a war zone from which they have warned neutral ships to keep
away. This Government has already taken occasion to inform the Imperial German
Government that it cannot admit the adoption of such measures or such a warning
of danger to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American
shipmasters or of American citizens bound on lawful errands as passengers on
merchant ships of belligerent nationality; and that it must hold the Imperial
German Government to a strict accountability for any infringement of those
rights, intentional or incidental. . . .
The
Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of
the Imperial German Government with the utmost earnestness to the fact that the
objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies
lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the destruction
of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and
humanity, which all modern opinion regards as imperative. . . . The Government
and the people of the United States look to the Imperial German Government for
just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital matter with the greater
confidence because the United States and Germany are bound together not only
for special ties of friendship but also by the explicit stipulations of the
treaty of 1828 between the United States and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions
of regret and offers of reparation in case of the destruction of neutral ships
sunk by mistake, while they may satisfy international obligations, if no loss
of life results, cannot justify or excuse a practice, the natural and necessary
effect of which is to subject neutral nations and neutral persons to new and
immeasurable risks.
The
Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States
to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of
maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of
safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.
BRYAN