The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-07-24

Washington, July %. President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing, CON
ferring at the White House last night,
completed the new note to Germany,
warning her that the repetition of
disaster such as that visited upon the
Lusitania or any violation of Ameri-
can rights on the high seas resulting
in loss of American lives will be re-
garded as "unfriendly."
The note is in the nature of final
statement by the United States of the
Interpretation that will be placed by
this government on future transgres-
sions of American rights, and repeats
that the American government will
leave nothing undone 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, Oy declaring her
submarine warfare to be a retaliatory
measure against the alleged unlawful
acts of her enemies, has admitted that
the destruction of unresisting mer-
chantmen without warning is illegal
German submarine commanders
already have proved that they can
save the passengers and crews of yes
sells and can act in conformity with
the laws of humanity in making wal
on enemy ships.
3-The United States cannot allow
the relations between the belligerents
to operate in any way as an abbrevia-
ton of the rights of neutrals, and there
ui4 1ot ~ ba priv, nj Ia fnr
which the American government con
tends, resulting in loss of American
lives, will be viewed as "unfriendly.'
4--The representations which the
American government has made in
previous notes for disavowal of the in
tention to sink the Lusitania with
Americans aboard and the request fol
reparation are reiterated with re
newed insistence.
5-The American government real
ICES the unusual and abnormal condi
lions which the present conflict has
created in the. conduct of maritime
war and is willing to act as an inter
mediary as between the belligerents
to arrange a modus vivendi or any
other temporary arrangements which
do not involve a surrender by the
United States of its rights.
6-The proposals made by Germany
to give immunity to American ships
not carrying contraband, and to four
belligerent ships under the American
flag, are rejected with the emphatic
assertion that to accept such sugges-
ton would be to admit Germany's
right to set aside the American con.
tention based on fundamental princi.
pies in international law-that neu.
trails may travel anywhere on the high
seas on unresisting ships of any ma.
tionality even if carrying contraband
The note is about 1900 words long
While nowhere in it is there any di
rect intimation of the course which
the United States will pursue in the
event of another disaster similar to
the Lusitania tragedy, there are en-
phatic statements throughout the com
munication pointing out that the dis
cussion of the principles involved has
been virtually concluded and that flu.
ture conduct of German submarine
commanders will determine the re.
sponsibility for the friendly relations
between the two countries
The statement that future transgres.
sions will be regarded as "unfriendly"
is taken in diplomatic usage to pre-.
sage a break of friendly relations
unless reparation and disavowal is
forthcoming