Impression sketch
of President Thomas Woodrow Wilson - by Jamie. The original can be seen at: https://kentuckypress.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/remembering-the-rms-lusitania-and-its-impact-on-america-during-world-war-i/
To follow on from day before,
Of President’ Wilsons message,
To Germany's crimes at lives
And American property -
Most notably the Lusitania
Outrage, being given approval.
The Cablegram - sent 13 May
1915, from President Wilson -
On from a conference with
Councillor to the Department
Of State, Mr Lansing - to follow
Amended legal details,
Mr Wilson made revisions.
The points of the message,
Noting incidents in German
Declared War Zone, about
British Isles, there had been
The Falaba sinking - with loss
Of an American Mr Thrasher.
The steamer Cushing - as well
As attacks by German airmen.
The Steamer Gulflight being
Torpedoed without warning -
As had the Lusitania in a loss
Of non-combatants lives.
Under international law, such
Acts are indefensible - United
States Government warned
Germany of accountability
For attacks - with demands
For financial reparations.
While lives from the ship, sunk
By Germany, cannot be replaced,
Making of regrets would have
No value - unless acts are stopped
For dangers to non-combatants.
There is also is neutrality rights
For countrymen, have entitlement
Of travel over seas - asserted
In humanity and international
Law - demanded in rightful respect
For no further repeat of attacks
On non-combatants or merchants.
By conclusion, the note sent
To Germany should accept
This earnest statement - to say
The US would use diplomacy
In this situation - or compliance.
The tone of the note was friendly
But firm, to allow Germany leeway -
In lack of intent or misunderstood
Orders, by submarine commanders,
Who had destroyed civilian lives.
Germany was given some space,
To ensure no future attacks upon
Their position of neutrality - while
If this did happen again there
Could be no guesses of outcome.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. America's Note to Germany.... The Daily
Telegraph, [online] 14 May. P.8.
Col.7. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11600359/Daily-Telegraph-May-14-1915.html
[Accessed: 14 May 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 14 May 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1America
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