The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-07-29
CONTENDS FOR FREEDOM
Of SEAS AT ANY COST
New Note to Germany is Considered the Last
Word from Washington Touching on
Submarine Attacks

cal alterations of circumstances and
methods 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 ex-
listing 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
is people because Of a mere alera-
ton of circumstance. The rights or
neutra1s in time of war are based up
on principle, not upon expediency,
and the principles are immutable. 1t
is the duty and obligation of belliger-
ents to find way to adapt the new
circumstances to them.
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 war
fare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing salts
faction at the demonstration of that
possibility by German naval command
ers. It is manifestly possible, there
fore to lift the whole practice of sub
marine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove the
chief cause Of offense.
In view Of the illegality made by
the Imperial government when it
pleaded the right of retaliation in de-
Tense 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 Imperial Ger
man government will longer refrain
from disavowing the wanton' act of it's
naval commander in sinking the Lusi-
tania or from offering reparation for
the American lives lost, so far as repa-
ration can be made for needless de-
struction 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 German government that
certain vessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now Illegally prescribed. The
very agreement would, by implication
subject other vessels to illegal ATTACK
and would be curtailment and, there
fore, an abandonment of the princi
pies for which this government con-
tends and which in times of calmer
counsels every nation would concede
as of course.
| The government of the United
States and the Imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood togeth-
er in urging the very principles upon
which the government of the United
States now solemnly insists. They
are both contending for ,he freedom
of the seas. The government of the
United States will continue to con-
tend for that freedom from whatever
quarter violated, without compromise
and at any cost. It invites the practi
cal cooperation of the Imperial Ger
man government at this time when
cooperation may accomplish most and
this great object be most strikingl>
and effectively. achieved.
The Imperial German guvernmen e1
presses the hope that this object may
be in some measure accomplished even
before the present war ends. It can
be. The government of the United
States feels obliged to insist upon it,
by whomsoever violated or ignored, in
the protection of it's own citizens, but
it is also deeply interested in seeing
it made practicable between the bellig-
erents themselves, and holds itself
ready at any time to act as the COM
mon friend who may be pri> i1eged to
suggest way.
In the meantime tbs vely value
which this government sets rpon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the Uni
ted States and the people and govern
ment of the German nation impels it to
press very solemnl;' upon the Imperial
German government the Necessity for
scrupulous observance OF neutral
rights in this critical waiter. Friend
ship itself prompts it to say to the
Imperial government that rep~t ition by
the commanders CT German naval YES
sells of acts in contravention of those
rights must be REGARDED by the govern
ment of the United States when they
affect American citizens, as deliberate-
ly unfriendly LANSING.
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