The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-07-29
Text of President Wilson's Note
to Germany

it is ready to make every reasonable allowance for
these novel and unexpected aspects of war at sea;
but it cannot consent to abate essential or fun
damental right of its people because of mere alter
alton of circumstance. The rights of neutrals in
time of war are based upon principle not upon ex-
pediency, and the principles are immutable. 1t is
the duty and obligation of beligerents to find way
to adapt the new circumstances to them.
The events of the last two months have clearly in
dcated that is possible and practicable to conduct
such submarine operations as have characterized
the activity of the imperial German navy within the
socaed zone in substantial accord with the ac-
cepted practices of regulated warfare. The whole
world has looked with interest and increasing salts
faction at the demonstration of that possibility by
German naval commanders. 1t is manifestly pos
sble therefore, to lift the whole practice Of submar
inc attack above he criticism which it has aroused
and to move the chief causes of Offense.
GERMANY ADMITS ILLEGALITY OF HER ACTS
In view of the admission of the illegality made by
the imperial German government when it pleaded
the right of retaliation in defense of it's 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 imper
ial German government will longer refrain from dis
avowng the wanton act of its naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania from offering reparation
for the American lives lost far PREPARATION
be made for 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,
accept the suggestion of the imperial German
government that certain vessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free the il
legally prescribed. The very agreement would, by
implication, subject other vessels to illegal attack
and would be curtailment, and therefore an aband-
&c --Io IL
contends, and which in calmer counsels every ma
ton would concede as of course.
The government of the United States and the i'm
perial German government are contending for the
great object, have long stood together in ur-
ging the very principles upon which the government
of the United States sOlemnly insists. They are
both contending for the freedom of the seas. The
government of the United States will continue to
contend for that freedom, from whatever quarter vi
olated, without compromise and at any COST 1t in
vites the practical cooperation of the imperial Ger
man government at this time when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great common object be
most strikingly and effectively achieved. z.
OBJECT CAN AND MUST BE ATTAINED NOW.
The imperial government expresses the hope that
this object may be in some measure accomplished
even before the present war ends 1t can be. The
government of the United States not only feels
obliged to insist upon il, by whomsoeyer violated or
ignored in the protection of its citizens, but is
also deeply interested in seeing it made practicable
between the beligerens themselves and holds itself
ready at any time to act as the common friend who
may be privileged to suggest way.
In the meantime the very value which this gov
eminent sets upon the long and unbroken friendship
between the people and government of the United
States and the people and government of the German
nation mpes it to press very sOlemnly upon the i'm
perial German government tn necessity for scru-
pulous observance of neutral rights in this critical
matter.
Friendship itself prompts it to say to the imperial
German Government that repetition by the COM
manders of German naval vessels of acts in contra
vention of those rights must be regarded by the
government of the United States, when they affect
American citizens deliberately unfriendly.
-- LANSING.