Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-07-27
THE REPLY To germany
official Text Of American Note About
LuSitanIa.
Note IS BRIEF and TO The POINT

Note Is BRIEF and TO The POINT
Repetition Of Acts Of Germans in At
taekins American Ships to be Con-
sidered Unfriendly-Seas Must be
Free-America to Contend for that
Freedom at Any Cost.
American Ambassador Gerard deliv-
cred the following note to the German
foreign office in Berlin last Friday:
The note of the imperial German
government dated the Sth Of July,
1915, has received the careful consid
Grafton Of the government Of the Unit
ed States and 1t regrets to be obliged
to say that 1t has found 1t very unsat-
isfactory because it fails to meet the
real differences between the two gov
ernments and indicates no way in
which the accepted principles Of law
and humanity may be applied in the
grave matter in controversy but pro-
poses, on the contrary, arrangements
for a partial suspension Of those prin-
ciples which virtually set them aside.
The government Of the United States
notes with satisfaction that the imper-
ial German government recognizes
without reservation the validity Of the
principles which this government had
addressed to the imperial German gov
ernment with regard to its announce
ment Of a war zone and the use Of
submarines against merchantmen on
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 nom combatants may In
no case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape after
being summoned TO submit to exami- |
nation; for belligerent act Of re-
taliation Is per sc an act beyond the
law, and the defense Of an act as re-
taliatory Is an admission that 1t is IL
legal.
America Disappointed.
The government of the United
States is, however, keenly disappointed
to find that the imperial German gov
ernment regards itself as in large de-
gree exempt from the obligation toI
observe these principles, even where
1t believes the policy and practice Of
the government Of Great Britain to be
in the present war with regard to
neutral commerce. The imperial Ger
man government will readily under
stand that the government Of the Unit
ed States cannot discuss the policy of
the government Of Great Britain with
regard to neutral trade except with the
government itself, and that 1t must re-
gard the conduct Of other belligerent
governments as irrelevant to any dis
cussion with the imperial German gov
ernment Of what this government re-
CARDS as grave and unjustifiable Ho-
lations Of the rights Of American citi-
zens by German naval commanders.
Illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiable they may be thought to be
against an enemy who Is believed to
have acted in contravention of law
and humanity, are manifestly indefen-
sible when they deprive neutrals Of
their acknowledged rights, particular
ly when they violate the right to life
itself. II a belligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without injuring the
lives Of neutrals, as we'll as their prop
erty, humanity and justice and a due
regard for the dignity Of neutral
powers dictate that the practice be
discontinued.
"UnpardonabIe offense."
IF persisted in 1t would in such cir
cumstances constitute an objectionable
offense against the sovereignty Of the
neutral nation affected. The govern
ment Of the United States Is not un-
mindful Of the extraordinary conditions
created by this war Of the radical alter
ations Of circumstances and method Of
attack produced by the use Of instru-
mentalities Of naval warfare which the
nations Of the world cannot have had
ternational law were formulated, and
is ready to make novel and unexpected
aspects Of war at sea; but 1t cannot
consent to abate any essential or fun
damental right Of it's people because OF
a mere alteration Of circumstances.
The rights Of neutrals in time Of war
are based upon principles, not upon
expediency, and the principles are
immutable. It Is the duty and obli-
CATION of belligerents to find way to
adopt in the new circumstances to
them.
The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t Is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activity Of the imperial Ger
man navy within the so-called war zone
in substantial accord with the accept
ed practices Of regulated warfare. The
whole world has looked with interest
and increasing satisfaction as the de-
monstration Of that possibility by Ger
man naval commanders. 1t is mani
festly possible, therefore, to lift the
whole practice Of submarine attack
above the criticism which it has arous-
ed and remove the chief cause Of Of
fense.
IlIesaIity Admitted.
In view Of the admission Of illegality
made by the imperial German gov
ernment when it pleaded the right OF
retaliation in defense Of it's acts and in
view Of the manifest possibility Of con-
forming to the established rules of
naval warfare the government Of the
United States cannot believe that the
imperial German government will long
er refrain from disavowing the wanton
act Of it's naval commander in sinking
the Lusitania or from Offering repara-
ton for the American lives lost, so far
as reparation can be made for need
less destruction Of human life by an