The Harrison times., 1915-07-31
Wilson's Note to German Government

warfare. The whole world has look
ed with interest and increasing salts
faction at the demonstration OF that
possibility by German naval command
ers. 1t is manifestly possible, there
fore, to lift the whole practice Of
submarine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove tho
chief cause Of offense
"In view Of the admission Of ille-
gality made by the imperial German
government when It pleaded the right
Of retaliation in defense Of its acts,
and in view of the manifest possibil-
ity Of conforming to the established
rules of naval warfare, the govern
ment OF the United States cannot be-
lieVe the imperial government will
longer refrain from disayowing the
wanton act Of its naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania or from offering
reparation for the American lives lost,
so far as reparation can 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,
cannot accept the suggestion OF the
imperial German government that GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free upon the seas
now illegally prescribed The very
agreement would, by implication sub.
iect other vessels to illegal attack and
would be a curtailment and, therefore,
an abandonment Of the principles for
which this government contends and
which in times of calmer counsels
every nation would concede as mat.
ter Of course.
Deliberately Unfriendy."
"The government OF the United
States and the imperial German gov.
ernment are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
In urging the very principles upon
which the government Of the United
States now 50 solenmly 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 whichever quar-
ter violated, without compromise and
at any cost 1t invites the practical
cooperation Of the imperial German
government at this time when co-ope.
ration may accomplish most, and this
common object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved.
THE imperial German government
expresses tle hope that this object
may in some measure be accomplished
even before the present war ends, Il
can be. The government OF the Unit.
ed States not only feels obliged to tn.
sist upon It, by whomosoyer violated
or ignored, IN the protection Of its
own citizens, but is also deeply inter.
ested IN seeing It made practicable be,
tween the belligerents themselves, and
holds itself ready at any time to act
as the common friend who may bo
privileged to suggest way
On the meantime, the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government Of the
United States and the people and gov.
onmont Of the German nation impes
II TO press very solemnly upon tho i'm.
perial German government the neces.
sity for scrupulous observance Of
neutral rights IN this critical mattor.
Fronshlp itself prompts It to say to
tho imperial German government that
repetition by the commanders Of Ger.
man naval vessels OF acts in contra
yenton Of those rights must be re-.
gardod by the government Of tho
United states, when they affect Amcrl.
can cltl2cns Os dolibcy~toly un.
friendly
uT ANGINA ~