The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-07-30

accord with the accepted practices of
regulated warfare. The whole world
has looked with interest and increaS-
ing satisfaction at the demonstration
of that possibility by German naval
commanders. 1t is manifestly posi-
Bile, therefore, to lift the whole prac-
tice Of submarine attack above the
criticism which it has aroused and
remove the chief causes of Offense.
In view of the admission of Illegal
ity made by the imperial German gov
eminent when it pleaded the right Of
retaliation in defense of it's acts, and
in view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
Of naval warfare, the government of
the United States cannot believe that
the imperial German government will
longer refrain from disavowing the
Wanton act of it's naval commander
in sinking the Lusitania or from of
fering reparation for the American
lives lost, so far as reparation can
be made for a needless destruction
of human life by an illegal act.
German Plan Unfair.
The government of the United
States while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made,
can not accept the suggestion of
the imperial German government
that certain vessels be designat-
ed and agreed upon which shall
be free on the seas now illegally pro-
sCribed. The very agreement would,
by implication, subject other vessels
to illegal attack and would be a cur
tailment, and, therefore, an abandon
ment of the principles for which this
government contends, and which in
times of calmer counsels every ma
ton would concede as of course.
German Champion of Sea Freedom.
The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent which are cOntending for the
same great object have long sto. d
together in urging the very principles
upon which the government of the
United States now so solerl2ly in
sists. They are both contending for
the freedom of the seas. The gov
eminent of the United States will con-
tinue to contend for that freedom,
from whatever quarter violated, with
out compromise and at any cost. 1t
invites the practical cooperation of
! the imperial German government at
/ this time when cooperation may &C.
ccmplish most, and this great COM
mon object be most strikingly and eff
fectively achieved
Another illegal Act "UnfrendIy.'
The imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure accom-
| plished even before the present war
ends. 1t can be. The government of
the United States not only feels
! obliged to insist upon it by whomso-
! ever violated or ignored in the protec-
| tion of its own citizens but is also
deeply interested in seeing it made
| practicable between the belligerents
I themselvs, 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
| lcng and unbroken friendship between
! the people and government of the
| United States and the people and
| government of the German nation i'm
pe1s it to press very solemnly upon
the imperial German government the
necessity for scrupulous observance
OF neutral rights in this critical mat
ter. Friendship itself prompts it to
say to the imperial government that
repetition by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels of acts in contra
yention of those rights must be re-
garded by the government of the
United States, when they effect
American citizens, as deliberatel,
unfriendly (Signed) LANSING.