The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-24
Department of State,

Ah~
Gerard:
Department of State,
Washington. July 81. 1915.
You are instructed to deliver tex
tuaIly the following note to the min
ister for foreign affairs:
The note OF the imperial German
government dated the Sth Of July,
1915. he received the careful consid-
Grafton of the Government or the
United States. and it regrets TO be
obliged TO say that it has found it very
unsatisfactory. because 1t fails to meet
the real differences between the two
governments and indicates no way
in which the accepted principles of
law and humanity may be applied in
the grave matter and controversy, but
proposes, on the contrary. arrange
ments for a partial suspension OF
! those principles which virtually set
! them aside.
The Government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the imperial German government rec
ognizes without reservation the va
idty of the principles insisted on in
the several communications which
this Government has addressed to the
imperial German government with re-
| gard TO its announcement of a war
/ zone and the use of submarines
| against merchantmen on the high
Seas-the principle that the high seas
are free. that the character and car
| 90 Of a merchantmen must first be
I asCertained before she can lawfully
be seized or destroyed. and that the
lives of non.combatants may IN no
case be put in jeopardy unless the YES
sci resiSts or seeks to escape after be-
ing summoned TO submit TO examina-
/ ton; for a belligerent act OF retalia-
| ton is per Sc an act beyond the law,
and the defense Of an act as reta!ia-
tory is an admission that 1t is liiegal.
The Government OF the United
| States is, however, keenly disappoint-
ed to find that the imperial German
government regards itself as in large
degree exempt from the obligation to
observe these principles, even wheFe
neutral vessels are %concernd, by what
it believes the policy and practice Of
the government Of Great Britain to
be in the present war with regard to
neutral commerce. The imperia.
German government will readily un-
derstand that the Government OF the
United States can not discuss the
/ policy of the government OF Great
Britain with regard TO neutral trade
except with that government Itself,
and that II must regard the conduct
Of other belligerent governments as
irrelevant to any discussion with the
. imperial German government OF what
this government regards as grave and
uniuStifiable violations OF the rights
OF American citizens by German naVa!
commanders. Illegal and inhuman
acts, however justifable they may be
thought to be against an enemy who
is believed to have acted in contra
ventIon Of law and humanity. are man
ifestIy inderensible when they de-
prive neutrals of their acknowledged
rights, particularly 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 property, humanity,
as we'll as justice and a due regard
for the dignity Of neutral powers,
| should dictate that the practice be
discontinued. If persisted in it would
in such circumstances constitute an
objectionable offense against the so.
vereignty OF the neutral nation affect
cd The Government of the United
States is not unmindful Of the extra
ordinary conditions created by this
war or OF the radlca! alterations Of
circumstances and method Of attack
produced by the use Of instrumentali'
ties Of naval warfare which the ma
lions OF the world can not have had
in view when the existing rules OF In
~ternational law were formulated. and
it is ready to make every reasonable
allowance for these novel and unex'
pected aspects Of a at sea; but It