The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-31
Wilson's Note to German Government

warfare. The whole world has look.
ed with interest and increasing salts.
faction at the demonstration OF that
possibility by German naval command
ers. 1t is manifestly possible, there
fore, to lift the whole practice of
submarine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove the
chief cause of offense.
"In view of the admission OF lille
gality made by the imperial German
government when 1t pleaded the right
of retaliation in defense of its acts,
and in view of the manifest POSSIBLE
ity of conforming to the established
rules of naval warfare, the govern.
ment of the United States cannot be-
lieve the imperial government will
longer refrain from disavowing the
wanton act Of its naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania or from offering
reparation for the American lives lost.
so far as reparation can be made for a
needless destruction of human life by
an illegal act.
"The government OF the United
States. while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made,
cannot accept the suggestion Of the
imperial German government that GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free upon the seas
now Illegally prescribed. The very
agreement would, by implication. sub
ject other vessels to illegal attack and
would be curtailment and, therefore,
an abandonment of the principles for
which this government contends and
which in times of calmer counsels
every nation would concede as a mat
ter Of course.
Deliberately UnfriendIy."
"The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
in urging the very principles upon
which the government Of the United
States now so solenmly insists. They
are both contending for the freedom
OF the seas. The government Of the
United States will continue to contend
for that freedom, from whichever quar-
ter violated, without compromise and
at any cost 1t invites the practical
cooperation Of the imperial German
government at this time when co-ope-
ration may accomplish most, and this
common object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved.
"The imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may in some measure be accomplished
even before the present war ends. It
can be. The government Of the Unit
ed States not olly feels obliged to In
sist upon it. by whomosover violated
or ignored. In the protection of its
own citizens, but is also deeply inter
ested in seeing IT made practicable be-
tween the belligerents themselves, and
holds itself ready at any time to act
as the common friend who may be |
privileged to suggest a way.
In the meantime, the very value |
which this government sets upon the |
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the
United States and the people and gov
eminent OF the German nation impels
Il to press very solemnIy upon the i'm |
perial German government the neces-
sity for a scrupulous observance of
Neutral rights in this critical matter.
Frienship itself prompts it to say to
he imperial German government that
epetition by the commanders of Ger.
nan naval vessels OF acts in contra.
'ention Of those rights must be re-
'arded by the government of the
United States. when they affect Ameri.
an citizens, as deliberately un-
riendly.
LANSING