Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1915-07-30
REPLY TO GERMANY AGAIN DE-
MANDs PREPARATION FOR
LUSITANIA'S VICTIMS.
FOR FREEDOM OF THE SEA
Latest Note to Berlin Says We Must
Hold Germany Responsible For
Actions Regardless of Other
Belligerent Powers.

Washington.-The American note on
submarine warfare, presented at Ber-
lin July % by Ambassador Gerard,
was made public here. 1t reveals that
Germany has been informed it is the
intention of the United States to ~.
gard as deliberately unfriendly" any
repetition by German naval command
ers of acts in contravention of Ameri-
can rights.
The United States announces it will
B continue to contend for the freedom OF
# the seas. from whatever quarter vio-
lated, without compromise and at any
N cost"
In official and diplomatic quarters
the communication was viewed as the
strongest and most emphatic pro
nouncement by the Washington gov
ernment since the beginning of its cor
respondence with the European bellig-
erents.
Among the points in the new note
re:
First-The assumption by the United
States that Germany, by declaring her
submarine warfare to be retaliatory
measure against the alleged unlawful
acts of her enemies, has admitted that
the destruction of unresisting mer-
chantment without warning is illegal.
Second - German submarine com
1iienuefs ~rfeauy navS proven l.i4i
+ t1ey can save the PASSENGERS and
crews of vessels and Gan act in con-
foImity with the laws of humanity in
makfgs%SaaT on enegnys ships,
Third-The Uqxted States cannot al
low the relations between the bellig-
erents to operate in any way as an
abbreviation of the rights of neutrals
and therefore any violation of the
principles for which the American
government contends, resulting in a
loss of American lives, will be viewed
as "unfrinedly."
Fourth-The representations which
the American government has made
in previous notes for disavowal of the
intention to sink the Lusitania with
Americans aboard and the request for
reparation are reiterated with re-
newed insistence.
Fifth-The American government
realizes the unusual and abnormal
conditions which the present conflict
has created in the conduct of maritime
war and is willing to act as an inter
mediary as between the belligerents to
arrange modus vivendi or any other
temporary arrangements which do not
involve a surrender by the United
States of its rights.
Sixth-The proposals made by Ger
many to give immunity to American
ships not carrying contraband and to
four belligerent ships under the Amer
lean flag are rejected with the en-
phatic assertion that to accept such
suggestion would be to admit Ger
manys right to set aside the Ameri-
can contention based on fundamental
principles in international law-that
neutrals may travel anywhere on the
high seas on unresisting ships of any
nationality, even If carrying contra
band.
Following is the official text of the
last American note to Germany re-
garding submarine warfare, which was
delivered to the foreign office at Ber
lin July 23 by Ambassador Gerard:
"The Secretary of State to Ambassa-
dor Gerard.
Department of State,
washington, July 81, 1918.
you are instructed to deliver text
ually the following note to the minis
ter of foreign affairs:
"The note of the imperial govern
ment dated the 8th of July. 1915, has
received the careful consideration of
the government of the United States,
and it regrets to be obliged to say that
It has folnd 1t very unsatisfactory, be-
cause it fails to meet the real differ
ences between the two governments
and indicates no way in which the ac-
cepted principles of law and humanity
may be applied in the grave matter in
controversy, but proposes, on the con-
trary, arrangements for a partial sus-
pension of those principles which vir-
tually set them aside.
"The government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the imperial German government
Recognizes without reservation the
validity of the principles insist
ed on in the several communica-
tions which this government has ad-