Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-22
PROPOSALS REJECTED
Note Makes Point That United
States Cannot Allow Relations
between Belligerents to Oper-
ate in Any Way AS An Alb
breviatiOn of Rights.

Washington. July 2t.-president Wilson
and Secretary Lansing, conferring at the
White House Tonight. completed the new
note to Germany warning her that the
repetition of disaster such as that Wis
tied upon the Lusitania or any violation
OF American rights on the high seas re-
sulting in loss of American lives will he
REGARDED as "unfriendly" 1t will he de-
spatched tomorrow.
Tn" note is in the nature Of a final
statement hY the United states of the
Interpretation that will be placed by this
government on future transercssions of
American right. and repeats tnat the
American government will leave nothing
undonc to stand by the position it has
previously declared
Among the points in the new note are:
1.-The assumption by the United states
that Germany by declaring her submarine
warfare to be a retaliatory measure
against the alleged unlawful acts of her
enemies has admitted that the destruc-
ton of unresisting merchantmen with
out warning is Illegal.
2-German submarine commanders al
ready nave proven that they can save
'hc passengers and crews of vessels and
can act in conformity with the laws If
humanity in making war on enemy ships.
3-The United States cannot allow the
relations between the belligcrents to on
crate in any way as an abhreviation ot
the rights Of neutrals. and therefore any
violation Of the principles for which the
American government contends, resulting
in a loss Of American lives will be viewed
as "unfrcndly."
THE representations which the Amer
icau government has made in previous
notes for disavowal of the intention to
sink the Lustania with Americans aboard
and the request :o~ reparation are rcitor-
ated with renewed insstenc".
The American government realizes
the unusual and abnormal conditions
which the present conflict has created in
the conduct Of maritime war and is will
ing to act as an intermediary as be
tween the helligcrents to arrange a
modus vivondi or any other temporary
ARRANGEMENTS which do not involve a
surrender ny the United States Of its
rights
G-Thc proposals made by Germany to
give immunity to American ships not
carrying contraband, and To four he'lig-
erout ships under the American dag. are
rejected with the emphatic assertion that
to accept such suggestion would be to ad-
init GormanY's right to set aside the
American contention based ON fundam"n-
tai principles in international law-that
ucitrals may travel anywhere ON the
high seas ON uurcs!stnc ships Of any ma
tionality even if carrying contrahand.
The note is about 100 words long.
while nowhere in il is thor, any direct
intination If the course which the
United states will pursue in the event
of another disaster similar to the
I.usitania tragedy. there are emphatic
stat ments throughout tho commuuica-
tfon pointing out that the discussion of
the uiiu,iplrs involved has been virtually
concluded and that future conduct nf
German submarine commanders viii
determine tho rosponsibility for the con-
tinuanco OF friendly relations between
the TWO countries