Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-07-30
j. S. GOVERNMENT
TAKES FIRM STAND
NOTE DELIVERED AT BERLIN IN
REPLY TO GERMAN NOTE
OF JULY 8.
United States VIII Continue to
Contend for Freedom Of the
Seas, and Demands Reparstlon
for Lives Sacrificed.


OF the United States to the German
note on the Lusitania and the general
subject of Germany's submarine war
fare was made public on July %
at the state department.
Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany.
The secretary of state to Ambassa-
dor Gerard. Department of State,
Washington, July 81, 1915.--You are
instructed to deliver textually the fol.
lowing note to the minister of foreign
affairs.
The note of the imperial German
government, dated the Sth of July,
1915, has received the careful con-
sideration of the government of the
United States, and 1t regrets to be
obliged to say that 1t has found II
very unsatisfactory. because II falls
to meet the real differences between
the two governments and indicates no
way in which the accepted principles
VI law and humanity may be applied
In the grave matter In controversy,
but proposes, on the contrary. ar
rangements for partial suspension
set them aside.
One Point Satisfactory.
The government of the United
| States notes with satisfaction that the
| imperial German government recog-
nizes without reservation the validity
Of the principles insisted upon In the
several communications which this
| government has addressed to the i'm.
| perial German government with re-
| gard to its announcement of a war
zone and the use of submarines
| against merchantmen on the high
seas-the principle that the high
seas are free, that the character and
cargo of a merchantmen must first
be ascertained before she can law
fully be seized or destroyed, and that
the lives of non-combatants may In no
case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape after
being summoned to submit to exam
nation; for a belligerent act of retail
alton is per Sc an act beyond the law,
and the defense of an act as retalia-
tory is an admission that 1t is illegal.
|. Keen Disappointment.
The government of the United
States Is, however. keenly disappoint-
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 concernd. by what
1t believes the policy and practice of
the government of Great Britain to be
In the present war with regard to neu-
trail commerce. The imperial German
government will readily understand
that the government of the United
States cannot discuss the policy of
the government of Great Britain with
regard to neutral trade except with
that government itself, and that II
must regard the conduct of other bel
ligerent governments as irrelevant to
any discussion With the imperial Ger
man government OF what this govern
ment regards as grave and unjustif-
able violations OF the rights OF Ameri-
can citizens by German naval COM
manders. Illegal and inhuman acts,
however justifiable they may be
thought to be against an enemy who
Is believed to have acted in contra
vention of law and humanity, are
nianifestly indefensible when they de-
prive neutrals of their acknowledged
rights, particularly when they violate
the right to life itself IL belliger-
ent cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives of neutrals,
as well as their property, humanity as
well as justice and a due regard for
the dignity Of neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be discon-
narcfctnh In IN WnnlA N
such circumstances, constitute an un-
pardonable offense against the sover-
eighty of the neutral nation affected.
The government of the United States
is not unmindful of the extraordinary
conditions created by this war or of
the radical alterations of circum-
stances 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 interna-
tional law were formulated, and 1t is
ready to make every reasonable al
lcwance for these novel and unexpect-
ed aspects OF war at sea; but 1t can
not consent to abate any essential or
fundamental right of its people be-
cause of a mere alteration of circum-
stance. The rights OF neutrals in time
OF var are based upon principle, not
upon expediency, and the principles
are immutable.
Duty Of Belligerents.
1t is the duty and obligation OF bel
lieerents to find way to adapt the
new circumstances to them
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t Is p's.
chile and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-