Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-14

steps to be taken by the United States
in the event of an unfavorable reply,
the note informs Germany that the
American govern ment will leave moth
ing undone either in diplomatic rep
reservations or other action to obtain
a compliance with its requests.
No essential changes, were made IN
the communication as formulated
Sunday by the president and approved
by the cabinet yesterday. The prln-
cipal points in the note are substan-
TALLY as follows:
/ The United States government
calls attention to the various incidents
in the war zone proclaimed by Ger
many around the British Isles, the
sinking of the British liner Falaba
with the loss Of Leon c. Thresher, an
American; the attack by German ar
men on the American steamer Cusn-
ing, the torpedoing without warming
Of the steamer Gulfiight and finally
the torpedoing without warning or the
Lusitania with it's loss Of more than
thousand lives Of non -combatants,
among them more than 100 Americans.
2. These acts are declared to be In
defensible under international law.
The United States points out that II
never admitted Germany's right to DO
them, and warned the imperial gov
eminent that IL would be held to
"strict accountability for attacks on
American vessels or lives. A strict
accounting, therefore, Is now asked
from Germany.
3. The usual financial reparatlon
will be sought, although Germany IS
in effect reminded that no reparatlon
can restore the lives Of those sacri-
feed in the sinking Of the Lusltanla
and other ships.
4. Expressions Of regret may com
ply with the legal precedents, but
they are valueless unless accompanied
by a cessation Of the practices en-
daneering lives Of -combatants.
S. The right of neutrals to travel
any point Of the high seas on neu-
trail or belligerent merchantmen Is
asserted.
6. In the name Of humanity and
international law, the United States
demands a guarantee that these rights
will be respected and that there be
no repetition Of the attacks on mer-
chantmen CARRYING non combatants.
7. The giving Of warnings to the
American pubic without ofhcially
communicating them to the United
States government is commented on
in connection with the German en-
bassy's printed advertisements before
the sailing Of the Lusitania, but ir-
respective Of the failure to advise the
American government of Germanys 8
purpose, the point Is made that no.
tice Of an intention to do an unlaW-
full act neither justifies nor legalizes
It,
g The suggestion is conveyed that
the German government, of course,
could not have intended to destroy in
nocent lives and that consequently the
German submarine commanders must
have misunderstood their instructions.
The American government indicated
its hope that this will be found to be
true. and a cessation of the unlawtul
practices thereby will result
9. In conclusion Germans atten-
ton is called to the earnestness or the
government and people Of the United
States in this situation. 1t Is made
plain that the United States will leave
nothing undone either in diplomatic
representations or other action to OBJ
tain compliance by Germany to the
requests made.
The note throughout Is couched in
friendly tones, but Is unmistakabiy
firm. BY the suggestion that German
submarine commanders must have
misunderstood their instructions or
that the German government coula
not have intended to destroy innocent
lives, room Is given for disavowal by
Germany Of the practices in the war
zone and an assurance that future at
tacks will be prohibited.
In executive quarters interest pre-
vailed today ard news OF what the
American note contained was eagerly
sought in the government departments
and in diplomatic circles generally.
Some international lawyers and dip
lomats who have followed closely
Germauy's course since beginning the
submarine warfare were of the opin-
ion that a compliance by Germany
with the terms Of the American note
would not be surprising and even that
such a course would not be depart
ure from previous expressions.
Germany has maintained, 1t was
cpntended, that the submarine activi-
ty was begun only. because England
would not permit foodstuffs and con-
ditional contraband destined to CIVIL
ians to reach Germany and because
the neutrals by their protests had
been powerless to effect an adherence
to the rules Of international law by
the allies in questions of contraband.
Should Germany announce her inten-
ton to abandon submarine warfare. II
was believed by some diplomats, she
would not necessarily make a stipula-
ton. but would state her expectation
that the United States as the greatest
neutral, would secure equal guaran--
tees from the allies on questions or
contraband.
In the event that Germany took the