The midland journal., 1915-07-30
U. S. REJECTING GERMAN PROPOSALS,
GIVES SOLEMN WARMING TO BERLIN
Not Violate Its Rights AoanDecIares Repetition Of Oenees
at Sea Would Be Regarded as Deliberately Un-
riendly.'-UnyeIding In Its Stand

latest note to the German government
was made public Friday afternoon,
From its sharp tone evidenced in every
paragraph it is apparently Mr.. VIII
sons intention that the note shall be
the last. In the first paragraph it
states that Germany's last note, to
which this is reply, was very un-
satisfactory; in its last paragraph it
announces that the further refusal of
the German government to accede to
this governments demands for the
safety Of American lives at sea will be
regarded az deliberately unfriendly."
Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany re-
garding submarine warfare, which was
delivered to the Foreign Office at Ber-
.lin yesterday by Ambassador Gerard:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO
AMBASSADOR GERARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July q, 1915.
You are instructed to deliver text
TALLY the following note to the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs:
The, note of the Imperial German
Government, dated July s. 1915, has
received the careful consideration of
the Government of the United States,
and 1T regrets to be obliged to say that
it has found it 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 partial sus-
pension Of these principles which vir-
tually set them aside.
The Government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
Imperial German Government rec
ognizes without reservation the
validity 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 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 cargo of
a merchantmen must first be ascer-
tanned 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 vessel re-
sists or seeks to- escape after being
summoned to submit to examination;
for belligerent act of retaliation is
per sc an act beyond the law, and
the defense of an act as retaliatory is
an admission that it is illegal.
"keenIy Disappointed" BY German
Stand.
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 where
neutral vessels are concerned, by what
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
United States cannot discuss the policy
of the Government of Great Britain
with regard to neutral trade except
with that Government itself, and that
it must regard the conduct of other
belligerent Governments as irrelevant
to any discussion with the Imperial
German Government of what this Gov
ernment regards as grave and un-
justiflable violations of the rights of
American citizens 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 contra
vention Of law and humanity are
manifestly indefensibie when they de-
prive neutrals of their acknowledged
rights. particularly when they violate
the right to life itself If a belligerent
cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives Of neutrals
as well as their property humanity as
well as justice and a due regard for
the dignity of neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be discon-
tinued. If persisted in, 1t would in
such circumstances constitute an UNI
pardonable offense against the SOW
reignty of the neutral nation affected.
"PrincipIss Are ImmutabIe."
The Government of the United
States is not unmindful Of the extracr-