If no president of the United States ever faced so grave a crisis, certainly none ever received more unanimous support. If there were any murmurs of dissatisfaction they were too faint to be heard above the chorus of approval.
CHAPTER IX
THE GERMAN DEFENSE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LUSITANIA
[BLAMES BRITAIN FOR MISUSE OF FLAG] — [INVESTIGATING CASES OF CUSHING AND GULFLIGHT] — [DECLARES SHIP CARRIED MOUNTED CANNON] — [SAYS IT ACTED IN JUSTIFIED SELF-DEFENSE] — [FINAL DECISION ON DEMANDS DEFERRED] — [AMERICAN OPINION OF GERMAN EXCUSES] — [EVASIVE AND INSINCERE] — [ATTACKS ON AMERICAN VESSELS MUST CEASE] — [SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT].
The German defense for the destruction of the Lusitania and for other marine atrocities committed against non-combatant vessels in the famous, or infamous, war zone was contained in a note to the American government, transmitted May 31, in reply to President Wilson’s note of protest. The full text of the German note is as follows:
“The undersigned has the honor to submit to Ambassador Gerard the following answer to the communication of May 13 regarding the injury to American interests through German submarine warfare.
“The Imperial government has subjected the communication of the American government to a thorough investigation. It entertains also a keen wish to co-operate in a frank and friendly way in clearing up a possible misunderstanding which may have arisen in the relations between the two governments through the events mentioned by the American government.
“Regarding, firstly, the cases of the American steamers Cushing and Gulflight. The American embassy has already been informed that the German government has no intention of submitting neutral ships in the war zone, which are guilty of no hostile acts, to attacks by a submarine or submarines or aviators. On the contrary, the German forces have repeatedly been instructed most specifically to avoid attacks on such ships.