The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-28
UNITED STATES SENDS FINAL
NOTE TO GERMAN GOVT

NOTE TO GERMAN GOVT.
- Continued from Page One)
ditions created by this war. or of the
radical alterations of circumstances
and method of attack produced by
the use of instrumentalities of naval
warfare 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 those novel and unexpected as
poets of val at sea; but it cannot
consent to abate any essential or
fundamental rights of it's people be-
cause of a mere alteration of circum-
stances. The rights of neutrals in
time of war + based upon princi-
Piles, not upon expediency, and the
principles are immutable. 1t is the
duty and obligation of belligerents
to find a way to adapt the new cir
Sul1lSLdllCSS W LIlell.
Possible Not to Offend.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activity of the Imperial
German navy within the .so-called
war zone in substantial accord with
the accepted practices of regulated
warfare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac-
ton at the demonstration of that
possibility by German naval COM
manders. It is manifestly possible,
therefore, to lift the whole practice
of submarine attack above the criti-
cism which it hasraroused and remove
the chief cause of offence. g.
In view of the admission Of illegal
ity made by the Imperial Govern
ment when it pleaded the right of re-
taliation in defence of its acts, and
in view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
of naval warfare, the, Government of
the United States cannot believe that
the Imperial Government. will longer
refrain from disavowing the wanton
act of its naval commander in sink
ing the Lusitania, or from offering
~reparation for the American lives
lost, so far as ~reparation can be made
for a 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
Imperial Government, that certain
vessels be distinguished and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed. >
The very agreement would, by i'm
plication, subject other vessels to
illegal attacks, and would be a cur
tailment and therefore an abandon
ment of the principles for which this
Government contends, and which in
times of calmer counsels every ma
ton would concede as of course.
Both Want Seas Free.
The Government of the United
States and the Imperial German Gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood to-
gether 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 the seas. The Govern
ment of the United States will con-
tinue to contend for that freedom,
from whatever quarter violated,
without compromise and at any cost.
1t invites the practical cooperation
of the Imperial Government at this
time when cooperation may accom-
plish most, and this great common
object be most strihingly and effect
lively achieved.
The Imperial German Government
expresses that hope that this object
may be in some measure accomplish
ed ever before the present wal ends.
IL can be. The Government Of the
United States not only feels obliged
to insist on it, by whomsoever vio-
lated or ignored, in the protection of
it's own citizens, but is also deeply
interested in seeing it made practi-
cable between the belligerents them
selves, and holds itself ready at any
time to act as the m friend
who may be privileged to suggest a
way.
In the meantime the very value
which this Government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship be-