Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-07-29
LANSING TELLS GERMANY
THAT SEA MUST BE FREE
Latest Note Declares that American
Lives Will be Protected from ALI
Illegal Attacks at All Costs.


submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activity of the Imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with ac-
cepted practices of regulated warfare.
The Entire World Locking on.
The whole world has looked with
interest and increasing satisfaction
at the demonstration Of that POSSIBLE
ity by German naval commanders. 1t
is manifestly possible, therefore, to
lift the whole practice of submarine
attack above the criticism which it
has aroused and remove the chief
causes of offense.
In view of the admission of illegal
ity made by tho Imperial government
when it pleaded the right Of retalia-
ton in defense of it's acts, and in view
of the manifest possibility of con-
forming to the established rules Of
naval warfare, the government of the
United States cannot believe that the
Imperial government will longer re-
frain from disavowing the wanton act
of its naval commander in sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparation
for the American lives lost, so far as
reparation can be made for needless
destruction of human life by an illegal
act.
The government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it Is made,
cannot accept the suggestion of the I'M
perial German government that GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed.
The very agreement would by impli-
cation, subject other vessels to illegal
attack and would be a curtailment
and therefore an abandonment Of the
principles for which this government
contends and which in times of calmer
counsels every nation would concedes
as Of course.
The government of the United
States and the Imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
in urging the very principles upon
which the government of the United
States now so solemnly insists.
They are both contending for the
freedom of seas. The government Of
the United States will continue to con-
tend for that freedom from whatever
quarter violated, without compromise,
and at any cost.
It invites the practical cooperation
of the Imperial German government
at this time when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great COM
mon object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved.
serupuIous Observance Of Rights.
The Imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure achieved
even before the present war ends. It
can be.
The government of the United
States not only feels obliged to Insist
upon it, by whomsoever violated or
ignored, in the protection Of its own
citizens. but is also deeply interested
in seeing it made practicable be-
tween the belligerents themselves,
and holds itself ready at any time to
act as the common friend who may
be privileged to suggest way.
In the meantime, the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government Of the
United States and the people and gov
eminent of the German nations impels
1t to press very solemnly upon the
Imperial German government the ne
cessity for scrupulous observance Of
neutral rights in this critical matter.
Friendship itself prompts It to say
to the Imperial German government
that repetition by the commanders Of
German naval vessels to acts in con-
travention of those rights must be
regarded by the government of the
United States, when they affect Amer
lean citizens, as deliberately UNI
friendly.
LANSING.