The American protest against the sinking of the _Lusitania_ was answered by the German Note of 8th July, 1915, extracts from which are here given:-- "The Imperial Government learned with satisfaction how earnestly the Government of the United States is concerned in seeing that the principles of humanity are realised in the present war. This appeal also finds a ready echo in Germany, and the Imperial Government is quite willing to permit its statements and decisions in the present case to be governed by the principles of humanity, just as it has always done.... Germany has always been tenacious of the principle that war should be conducted against the armed and organised forces of an enemy country but that the enemy civilian population must be spared as far as possible from the measures of war.... If the commander of the submarine which destroyed the _Lusitania_ had caused the crew and passengers to take to the boats before firing a torpedo this would have meant the certain destruction of his own vessel.... It was to be expected that a mighty ship like the _Lusitania_ would remain above water long enough, even after the torpedoing of the vessel, to permit the passengers to enter the ship's boats. Circumstances of a very peculiar kind, especially the presence on board of large quantities of highly-explosive materials, defeated this expectation. In addition, it may be pointed out that if the _Lusitania_ had been spared thousands of cases of ammunition would have been sent to Germany's enemies, and thereby thousands of German mothers and children would have been robbed of their bread-winners.... The Imperial Government will always be ready to do all it can in the present war to prevent the jeopardising of the lives of American citizens. The Imperial Government, therefore, repeats its assurances that American ships will not be hindered in the prosecution of legitimate shipping, and that the lives of American citizens on neutral vessels shall not be placed in jeopardy." On the 1st September, 1915, Count Bernstorff handed the following written communication to Mr. Lansing:-- "MY DEAR SECRETARY, "In reference to our conversation of this day, I beg to inform you that my instructions concerning our answer to your last _Lusitania_ Note contain the following passage: 'Liners will not be sunk by submarines without warning, and without ensuring the safety of the lives of non-combatants, provided that the liners do not try to escape or offer resistance.'"