The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-27


Germany Note invites the Coop.
Grafton of the Imperial German Gov
ernment In the Endeavor to Obtain
Freedom of the Seas-Full Text of
the Latest Communication to Berlin.
Washington, July 2i.-Tne note pre-.
sented at the German foreign office by
Ambassador Gerard, as viewed in
Washington, means that another sub
marine attack on American lie will
result in break between Germany
and the United States.
The climax of President Wilson's
warning to Germany in regard to the
rights of Americans comes in the final
sentence of his note, as follows:
Friendship itself prompts the United
States government to say to the i'm
perial German government that repe-
tition by the commanders of German
naval vessels o. acts in contravention
of those rights must be regarded by
tfe government of the United States
When they affect American citizens as
deliberately unfriendly."
President Wilson also notifies Ger
many that the United States will con
tend for its rights as a neutral with
out compromise and at any cost"
Practices of the German naval forces,
such as have been protested by this
government, is persisted in. will con-
Ia 60, 10, of
tense against the sovereignty of any
neutral nation affected"
Great Britain Included.
AS against these severe statements
there is a feature of the note which
Is expected to go far toward allaying
the deep anti-American feeling that
Is likely to be aroused in Germany.
The presidents warning that the
United States will contend for Amer-
can rights ON the high seas. without
compromise and at any cost" is made
to apply equally to Great Britain as
we'll as to Germany. These rights
will be protected from whatever
quarter violated" Is the way Mr.. Will
son puts it.
There is no doubt that this will be
regarded, both in Germany and in the
United States, as a promise on the
part of this government to deal as
vigorously and insistently with Brit
ish violation of neutral rights on the
high seas as with Germany's acts.
1t often has been asserted that could
the German government and people
be convinced that the United States
was sincerely endeavoring only to as
sert its rights and not to favor the
allies as against Germany, much o.
the resentment caused by the subma-
r.ne issue woud instantly disappear.
This expression was deliberately writ
ten into the note with this phase Of
the German attitude in mind.
There is still another feature of the
note in which the German government
may if 1t chooses to do so, find some
cause for qualification. the president
In two paragraphs written by his own
hand, adverts to the remarks of the
German note of July 8, about the mu-
tual interests of the two governments
ir "the freedom of the seas" and
opens the way to Germany to prove
the sincerity of her statement that
she really desires law to reign su-
preme during this war.
Seeks Cooperation.
Declaring that both governments
are contending for the freedom of the
' seas, the note invites the practical CO.
operation of the German government
at this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most" The president not
only echoes the expressed wish Of Ger
many that this object may be accom-
plishced during the present war, but
also asserts that it can be attained.
| The United States, 1t Is declared,
holds itself ready to act as the COM
mon friend of the belligerents' inter
ests in this case.
It was apparent that this reference
in the presidents note to the freedom
of the seas left a loophole for another
pote by Germany, but 1t was equally
apparent that further discussion, even
along this new line, will be impossi'
BILE unless Germany refrains from
committing any more offenses against
American life on the high seas. In
ether words, President Wilson mas Of
fered Germany means of escape
from the present embarrassing situa
-tion, provided she holds in check her
submarine operations pending the ex
changes.
The effect o: the presidents note
as viewed here, is to leave it absolute
ly within the power of Germany to de
! termine whether or not break shat