The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-07-29
NO THREATS CONTAINED
Germany is Given Clear Under
standing What This Nation
~ Will Demand


Washington.-Thet text of the Amer
lean note on the submarine warfare,
presented at Berlin by Ambassador Ge-
rard, has been made public. 1t re-
veals that the Imperial government
had been informed it is the intention
of the United States to regard as "de-
liberately unfriendly" any repetition
by the commanders Of German naval
vessels of acts in contraventlon or
American rights.
Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany re-
garding submarine warfare, which
was delivered to the Foreign Office at
Berlin by Ambassador Gerard.
The Secretary of State to Ambassa-
dor Gerard.
Department of State.
Washington, July Fl, 1915.
You are instructed to deliver text
rClly, the following note to the Min
iskr for Foreign Affairs:
The note of the Imperial German
Government dated the eighth 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
to meet the real differences between
the two Governments 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, ar
rangements for partial suspension
of those principles which virtually set
them aside.
The Government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
Tmperiaqs German Government recOg-
nizes without reservation the validity
of the principle insisted on in the sew
eral communications which the Gov
eminent has addressed to the Impe-
rial German Government with regard
to it's announcement of war zone
and the use of submarines against
merchantmen on the high seas-the
principle that the seas are free, that
the character and cargo of a mer-
chairman 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 reslsts or
seeks to escape after being summoned
to submit to examination, for a be1l1g-
erent act of retaliation is per Sc an
act beyond the law and defense Of an
act as retaliatory is an admission that
it is illegal.
The government of the United
n ioo int
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 what
it believes the policy and practice Of
| the government of Great Britain to be
in the present war with regard to neu-
trail commerce. The Imp German
government will readily understand
that the government of the United
| States cannot discuss the policy of the
government of Great Britain with re-
gard to neutral trade except with that
government itself, and that it must re-
gard the conduct of other belligerent
governments as irrelevant to any dis
| cussion with the Imp erial German gov
CARDS as grave and unjustiiable viola
flows Of the rights of American citi-
zens by German naval commanders.
| Illegal ard inhuman acts, however
irstifiab1e they may be thought to be
against any enemy who is believed to
| have acted in contravention of law
| and humanity, are manifestly indie
feasible when they deprive neutrals
of their acknowledged rights, particu-
1arly when they violate the right to
| life itself. If belligerent cannot re-
| taliate against an enemy without in
| juring the lives of neutrals, as we'll as
heir properly, humanity, as well as
| Justice and a due regard for dignity
| of neutral powers, should dictate that
| the practice should be discontinued.
If persisted in 1t would in such cir
| crms'tances constitute an objectionable
offense against the sovereignty Of
the neutral nation affected. The gov
eminent of the United States is not
unmindful OF the extraordinary condf-
tons created by this war, of the radf-