The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-07-30
KAISER is GIVEN
. FINAL WARNING
Another Attack on Americans
Will Be "UntriendIy" Act.
new GERMAN NOTE TO POINT

cipIe-U. S. Controversy With Brit
ain Is for Britain, Not Germany.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-The follow
ing is the full text of President Will
sons note to Germany:
The secretary of state to Ambassa-
dor Gerard.
Department of State, Washington,
July p, 1915.
You are instructed to deliver text
ually the following note to the min
lister for foreign affairs:
The note of the imperial govern
ment dated the 8th of July, 1915, has
received the careful consideration of
the government of the United States
and it regrets to be obliged to say
that it has found it very unsatistac-
tory, because it fails to meet the real
differences between the two govern
ments and indicates no way in which
the accepted principles of law and
humanity may be applied in the grave
matter in controversy but proposes,
on the contrary, arrangements for 3
partial suspension of those principles
which virtually sets them aside.
RetaIiatory Acts Admitted Illegal.
The government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
imperial German government recOg-
nizes without reservation the valid
ity of the principles insisted on III
the several communications which
this government has addressed to the
imperial German government with re-
gard to its announcement Of 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 car
go of a merhcantman must first be
ascertained before she can lawfully
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-
animation; for a bellig erent act of re-
taliatiOn is per Sc an act beyond the
law and the defense of an act as re-
taliatory is an admission that it is
illegal.
Acts Against NeutraIs IndefensibIe.
The government of the United
States, however, is keenly disap-
pointed to find that the imperial Ger
man government regards itself as in
large degree exempt from the Obliga-
ton to observe these principles, even
where neutral vessels are concerned,
by what it believes the policy and
practice of the government of Great
Britain to be in the present war with
regard to neutral coiamerce. The i'm
perial German government will read
ily understand that the government
of the United States cannot discuss
the policy of the government of Great
Britain with regard to neutral trade
except with that government itself
and that it must regard the conduct
OF other belligerent governments as
irrelevant to any discussion with the
imperial German government of what
this government regards as grave and
unjustifiable violations OF the rights
of American citizens by German ma
val commanders. Illegal and inhu-
man acts, however justifable they
may be thought to be against an
enemy who is believed to have acted
in contravention of law and humanity,
are manifestly indefensible when they
deprive neutrals of their acknowi-
edged rights, particularly when they
violate the right to life itself. If a
belligerent cannot retaliate against an
enemy without injuring the lives of
neutrSls as we'll as their property,
humanity, as we'll as Justice and E
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 neu-
trail nation affected. The govern
ment of the United States is not un-
mindful of the extraordinary cOndi-
tions created by this war or of the
radical alterations of circumstance
and method of attack produced by the
use of instrumentalities of naval war
fare which the nations of the world
cannot have had in view when the
existing rules of international law
were formulated, and it is ready to
make every reasonable allowance for
these novel and unexpected aspects
of war at sea; but it cannot consent
to abate any essential or fundamental
right of its people because of mere
alteration of circumstances.
Neutral Rights Above All.
The rights of neutrals in time OF
war are based upon principle not
upon expediency, and the principles
are immutable. 1t is the duty and
obligation of belligerents to find a
way to adapt the new circumstances
20 them