Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-13
Outline o. WILSON
NOTE MADE PUBLIC
UNITED srArEs INSISTS NEu-
TRAILS HAVE RIGHT TO TRAVEL
HIGH sEAs uMMoLEsrEp. J.
PRESENCE ON sELLleERENT
SHIPS GIVES NO EXCUSE
Belief General That Germany Will
Comply With Demands and Stop
Submarine Warfare on Vessels
Carrying Non. combatannts - Way
Lett Open to Submit Gracefully.

washington, May 10. - The United
States note to be sent to Germany
was to have been cabled Wednesday
night. but the president after confer
ence with Counselor Robert Lansing,
Of the state department, made several
changes in legal detail and then re-
yised it alone in his study at. night.
No changes were made in the es-
sentials of the communication as form
ulated Sunday by the president and
approved by the cabinet Tuesday. The
principal points In the note are SUBJ
stantially as follows:
Nine Demends.
One-The United States government
calls attention to the various Incl
dents in. the war zone proclaimed by
Germany around the British Isles; the
sinking OF the British liner Falaba.
with the loss Of Leon G. Thresher, an
American; the attack by German air
men on the American steamer Cushing,
the torpedoing without warning of the
American steamer Gulfltght, flying the
stars and stripes and finally, the tor
pedoing without warning Of the Lusi-
tania with its loss Of more than a
thousand lives Of cnon-combatants,
among them more than a hundred
Americans.
Two-These acts are declared to be
indefensible under international law.
The United States points out that 1t
never admitted Germany's right to do
them and warned the imperial govern
ment that it would be held to a strict
accountability for attacks on American
vessels or lives. A strict accounting,
therefore, is now asked from Germany.
Three-The usual financial repair
alton will be sought, altho Germany is
in effect reminded :hat no reparation
can restore the lives Of those sacri-
feed in the sinking Of the Lusitania
and other ships.
Four-Expressions Of regret may
comply with the legal presidents but
they are valueless unless accompanied
by cessation Of the practices en-
dangering lives OF non-combatants.
Five-The right Of neutrals to travel
any point Of the high seas on neutral
or belligerent merchantmen Is as
serted.
Six-In the name Of humanity and
International law, the United States
demands Z guarantee that these rights
viii be respected and that there be no
repetition Of the attacks on merchant
men carrying non-combatAnts.
Seven-The giving Of warning to the
American public without officially
communicating them to the United
Sattes government Is commented on
In connection with the German en-
bassy,s printed advertisement before
the sailing OF the Lusitania, but ir-
respective Of the failure to advise
the American government of Ger
fnany's purpose the point IS made that
notice Of an intention to do an
unlawful act neither justified nor
legalized It.
Eight-The suggestion is conveyed
that the German government Of course
could not have intended to destroy in
nocent lives and that consequently the
German submarine commanders must
have misunderstood their instructions.
The American government indicates
its hope that this will be true and a
cessation Of the unlawful practices
thereby will result.
Nine-In conclusion. Germany's at
tention IL called to the earnestness of
the government and the people Of the
United States In this situation. It is
made plain that the United States will
leave nothing undone either in diplo-
matic representation sor other action
to obtain . compliance. by Germany to
the request made.
BY the sugEestion that German sub
marine commanders must have mis-
understood their instruction or that the
German government could not have In
tended to destroy innocent lives, room
is given for the disavowal by Ger
many OF the practices in the war zone
and an assurance that future attacks
will be prohibited
In executive quarters intense In
terest prevailed today and news Of
what the American note contained
was eagerly sought by officials in the
government departments and in diplo-
matte circles generally.
Germany May Comply.
Some international lawyers and dips
lomats who have followed closely:
Germany's course since the beginning
Of the submarine warfare were OF
the opinion that q compliance by
Germany with the terms Of the Ameri-
can note would not be surprising and
be departure from previous ex-.
precision. Germany has maintained. it
was commended, that the submarine ac-