The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-07-29
AMERICAN NOTE WARNS WARNS GERMANY GERMANY
AGAINST ANY REPETITION Of OFFENSES
Document Reiterates the United States I~nsistence Upon Rights Of
Neutrals Upon the Sales.--future Violations, Such as Sinking of
Lustania, to be Regarded as Deliberately %Unfiendy."

Washington, July z6. - Without
backing down, and Withdrawing not
n whit from his position originally
taken. President Wilson has placed
upon Germany the responsibility OF
continuing or breaking the friendly
relations between the two countries.
In the American note addressed to
the imperial German government and
just made public, Germany is fatty
warned that a repetition Of the Of
lenses of which this country COM
plains will be regarded as "deliber-
ately u%nfriendly."
The words deliberately unfriend-
ly," as used in diplomacy, constitute
a polite and suave method of warn
ing, which amounts to an ultimatum.
While the Interpretation Of the words
rests with the President, there seems
little doubt but that the executive has
substituted them for the words strict
accountability" and as he has with
drawn from consideration of these
words, it seems hardly possible he
can ignore the plain intention Of the
ones used in this last note.
Must Not Repeat offense.
The document is by far the strong
est expression that has come from
this government In the course Of the
correspondence between America and
the German government. The lang-
uage is forceful, courteous, convinc-
ing and almost tart in places.
If Germany should repeat the of.
tense 1t will constitute an 'unfriend-
ly act" and in diplomatic language
this means the breaking off of diplo-
matte relations and possibly war.
With such a declaration OF the
American position, this country will
sit back and wait for Germany to
speak, but more specifically TO act.
The President apparently feels
there is Dothing more for this govern
ment to do and has returned to his
summer home in Cornish.
Text Of Third American Note.
Washington, July 25.-Following is
the official text of the latest American
note to Germany regarding submarine
warfare, which was delivered to the
foreign Office at Berlin by Ambassador
Gerard:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO
AMBASSADOR GERARD,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
You are instructed to deliver texual.
ly the following note to the minister
of foreign affairs:
The note of the imperial German
government dated the 9Th of July,
1915, has received the careful consid-
Grafton Of the government of the Unit
ed States, and 1t regrets to be obliged
to say that 1t has found 1t very UNI
satisfactory, because it fails to meet
the real difference between the two
governments and indicates no way in
which the accepted principles or law
and humanity may be applied in the
grave matter in controversy, but pro-
poses, on the contrary, arrangements
for a partial suspension Of those prin-
ciples, which virtually set them aside.
High Seas Are Free.
The government Of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
imperial German government recogniZ-
es without reservation the validity of
the principles insisted upon in the sew
eral communications which this gov
eminent has addressed the imperial
German government with regard to its.
announcement of a war ION and the
use of submarines against merchant
men on the high seas-the principle
that the high seas are free, that the
character and cargo Of a merchant
man must first be ascertained before
she can lawfully be seized or destroy
ed, and that the lives of non-combat-
ants may in no case be put in jeopar-
dy unless the vessel ~resists or seeks
to escape after being summoned to
submit to examination; for a belliger-
ent 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.
United States keenIy Disappointed.
The government of the United States
is, however, keenly disappointed to
find that the imperial German govern
ment regards itself as in large degree
exempt from the obligation to observe
these principles, even where neutral
vessels are concerned, by what it be-
lieves the policy and practice of the
government of Great Britain to be In
the present war with regard to neutral
commerce. The imperial German gov
eminent will readily understand that
the government of the United States
cannot discuss the policy Of the gov
eminent of Great Britain with regard
to neutral trade except with the gov
eminent itself. and that 1t must regard
the conduct of other belligerent gov
ernments as Irrelevant to any discus
sion with ths imperial German gov
eminent Of what this government re-
CARDS as grave and unjustifabie vio-