The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-05-20
Text OF President Wilson's
Note to German Government

whether suspected merchantmen is in fact of belig
nationality is in fact carrying contraband
of war under a neutral flag.
"The government of the United States, there
fore, desires to call the attention of the imperial
German government with the utmost earnestness to
the fact that the objection to heir present method of
attack against the trade of their enemies lies in the
practical impossibity of employing submarines in
the destruction of commerce without disregarding
those rules of fairness reason, justice and human
ity which all modern opinion regards as imperative
1t is practically impossible for the officers of SUBJ
marine to visit merchantmen at sea and examine
her papers and cargo 1t is practically impossible
for them to make prize of her; and if they cannot
put prize crew board of her; they cannot sink
her without leaving her and all board of her
to the mercy of the in her small boats. These
facts it is understood the imperial German govern
ment frankly admits. We are Informed that in the
instances of which we have spoken time enough for
that poor measure of safety was not given, and
in at least two of the cases cited not SO much a
warning received. Manfestly submarines
not be used against merchantmen, as the last few
weeks have shown, without an inevitable violation
of many sacred principles of justice and humanity
american citizens act within their indisputable
rights in taking their ships and in travelling WHEREBY
their legitimate business calls them upon the high
and exercise those rights in what should be the
well justified confidence that their lives will not be
endangered by acts done in clear violation of unver-
sally acknowledged international obligations, and
certainly in the confidence that their govern
ment will sustain them in the exercise of their rights
"There was recently published in the newspapers
of the United States regret to inform the imperial
German government, formal warning, purpoting to
come from the imperial German embassy at Wash
ngtOn, addressed to the people of the United States
and stating in effect that any citizen of the United
States who exercised his rights of free travel upon
the would do at his peril if his journey should
take him within the of waters within which the
imperial German navy was using submarines against
the of Great Britain and France, notwith-
standing the respectful but very earnest protest of
his government, the government of the United
States do not refer to this for the purpose of calling
attention of the imperial German government at this
time to the surprising irregularity of cOmmunica
ton from the imperial German embassy at Washing
ton addressed to the people of the United States
through the newspapers, but only for the purpose
of pointing out that warning that unlawful
and inhumane act would be committed can be posi-
bly, accepted, excuse paliation for that act
abatement of the responsibility for its
mission.
"LOng acquainted this government has been
with the character of the imperial German govern
ment and with the high principles of equity by which
they have in the past been actuated and guided the
government of the United States cannot believe that
the Ommanders of the vessels which committed
these acts of awlessness did except under the mis-
apprehension of the orders issued by the imperial
German naval authorities. 1t takes if for granted
that, at least within the practical possibilities of
cry such case, the commanders of submarines
were expected to do nothing that would involve the
lives of noncombatants the safety of neutral ships
the cost of failing of their object of caDture
or destruction. 1t confidently expects, therefore,
athat the imperial German government will disavow
the acts of which the government of the United
States complains, that they will make reparatOn
far reparation is possible for injuries which are
without measure, and that they will take immediate
steps to prevent the of anything so OBJ
viOusy subversve of the principles of warfare for
which the imperial German government have in the
past so wisely and so firmly contended.
"The people of the United States look to the inn
perial German government for just, prompt and
enlightened action in this vital matter, with the
greater confidence because the United States and
Germany bound together not only by special ties
of friendship but also by the explicit stpuatOns of
the treaty of 1928 between the United States and
the kingdom of Prussia. >..~-~s
Expressions of regret and offers of PREPARATIONS
in of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by
mistake, while they may satisfy international obga-
hOns no loss of life results cannot Justify ex-
cuse practice, the natural and necessary effect of
which is to subject neutral nations and neutral per-
to and Unreasonable risks.
'The imperial German government will not ex-
pect the government of the United States to omit
any word or any act necessary to the performance
of its sacred duty Of maintaining the rights of the
United States and its citizens and safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment" Bryan.