Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-07-28

is the official text OF the latest Amer
lean note to Germany regarding sub
marine warfare, which was delivered
to the foreign office at Berlin to-day
by Ambassador Gerard
Department of State,
Washington, ID. G.
July 81, 1915.
To Ambassador Gerard:
You are instructed to deliver text
ually the following note to the minis
ter for foreign affairs:
The note of the imperial German
government, dated the Sth Of July,
1915, has received the careful con-
sideration of the government of the
United States and it regrets to be
obliged to say that it has found it
very unsatisfactory, because it fails
the two governments and indicates
no way in which the accepted prin-
ciples Of law and humanity may be
applied in the grave matter in con-
troversy, but proposes, on the con-
trary, arrangements for partial sus-
pension of those principles which
virtually set them aside
iiiegaiity Admitted by Germany.
The government OF the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the imperial German government
uitb
validity of the principles insisted on
in the several communications which
this government had addressed to the
imperial German government with
regard to its announcement OF a war
zone and the use Of submarines
against merchantmen on the high
seas-the principle that the high
seas are free, that the character and
cargo Of a merchantmen must first
be ascertained before she can law
fully be seized or destroyed, and that
the lives OF non-combatants may in
no case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape af-
ter being summoned to submit to ex-
amination; for a belligerent act of
retaliation is per Sc an act beyond
the law, and the defense of an act as
retaliatory is an admission that it is
illegal.
The government OF the United
States is, however, keenly disappoint-
ed to find that the imperial German
government regards itself as in large
degree exempt from the obligation to
observe these principles, even where
neutral vessels are concerned, by
WHa. b. Nri."".~ 'In p"Iic? and p.2c-
,tny O. he g.,c.,mrnt Of Gr@ot Nri.
cana t. 0a la .Ev u,.ssr. way .n.3I
r'.&rI .c n"u.v~ c.m4nr.n.
Gr'ro.. ,tt4y} or uluarI, lr..,,.,#ur.
The imperial German government
will readily understand that the gov
ernment of the United States cannot
discuss the policy of the government
Of Great Britain with regard to neu-
tral trade except with that govern
ment itself, and that it must regard
the conduct Of other bciligerent gov
ernments as irrelevant to any discus
sion with the imperial German gov
ernment OF what this government re-
CARDS as grave and unjustifiable vio-
lations of the rights of American cit
liens by German naval commanders.
Illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiable they may be thought to
be against an enemy who is believed
to have acted in contravention Of
law and humanity, are manifestly in
defensible when they deprive neu-
trails of their acknowledged rights,
particularly when they violate the
right OF life itself. If the belliger-
ent cannot retaliate against an en-
emy without injuring the lives Of
neutrals, as we'll as their property,
humanity, as well as justice and
due regard for the dignity Of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. If persisted in
it would in such circumstances con-
Stitute an objectionable offense
against the sovereignty of the nca-
tral nation affected.
No American Rights Can BE Abated.
The government of the United
States is not unmindful of the extra
ordinary conditions created by this
war or of the radical alterations 0:
circumstance and method Of attack
produced by tie use of instrumental
tics Of naval warfare which the ma
tions OF the world cannot have had
IN view when the existing rules OF in