Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-29


text.
the accepted practices of regulated
warfare The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac
tion at the demonstration OF that pos
sihility by German naval command
ers. II is manifestiy possible, there
fore. to lift the whole practice OF sub
marine attack above the criticism
which IL has aroused and remove the
chief causes OF offense.
Germany Admits illegal Acts
In view OF the admission OF H.
legality made by the imperial German
government when II pleaded the righs
of retaliation In defense Of It's acts
and In view of the manifest possihil-
ity OF conforming TO the established
rules of naval warfare. the govern.
ment of the United States cannot be-
lieve that the imperial German gov
eminent will longer refrain from dis
aEowing the wanton act OF its naval
commander in sinking the I4usitania
or from offering reparation for the
American lives lost, so far as repara;
ton can be made for needless de,
struction OF human life by an Illegal
set
U. s. Cannot Accept Suggestion.
The government OF the United
States. while not indifferent to the
friendly spirit In which Ii 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 impli-
cation, subject other vessels to IL
legal attack and would be cnrtail-
ment, and therefore an abandonment,
of the principles for which this gov
eminent contends, and which In calm.
er counsels every nation would con
cede as OF course.
Contends for Freedom at Any Cost.
The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object; have long stood to-
gether In urging the very principles
upon which the government Of the
United States now SO solemnty in
sists. They are both contending for
the freedom of the seas. The govern
ment OF the United States win con
tinue TO contend for that freedom,
from whatever quarter violated, with
out compromise and at any cost. 1t
invites the practical cooperation of
the imperial German government at
this time when cooperation may ac~
complish most and this great common
object be most strikingly and eTec-
lively achieved.
Object Can De Attained.
The imperial German government.
expresses the hope that this object
may be In some measure accomplish
ed even before the present war ends.
1t can be. The government OF the
United States not only feels obliged
to insist upon it, by rhomsoever vio-
lated or ignored, in the protection OF
it's own citizens, but Is also deeply
interested in seeing II made practc-
able between the belligerents them
selves and holds itself ready at any
time to act as the common friend
who may be privileged to suggest
way.
As Deliberately unfrierdiy" Act
In the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unhroken friendship be
tween the people and government OF
the United States and the people and
government of the German nation
impels it to press very sofemnly upon
the imperial German government the
necessity for scrupulous ebsery-
ance of neutral rights in this critical
matter.
Friendship itself prompts II to say
to the imperial German government
that repetition by the commanders of
German naval vessels Of acts In con
trsvention OF those rights must be
regarded by the government of the
United States, when they affect
American citizens. as deliberately un.
friendly.
LANSING