St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-07-31
SYNOPSIS OF
AMER|CANNOTE
TO GERMANY
Final Clause States Unalter-
able Position of United
States as to Neutrals.

Washington, July 22.-The new
american note to Germany was clear
ed from Washington over the tele-
graph wires during last night and be
ing aflashed today over to London
thence to Copenhagen. from where II
goes by overland wires to Berlin.
The note should reach Berlin tonight
or Friday morning.
The note Is In the nature of a
final statement by the United States.
Among the points in the note are:
l. The assumption by the United
States that Germany, by declaring
her submarine warfare to be retail
iatory measure against the alleged
unlawful acts Of her enemies, has ad-
mitted that the destruction of unre-
, sisting merchantmen without warn
ing is illegal.
2. German submarine command
ers already have proved that they
can save passengers and crews of ves-
sells and can act in conformity with
the laws Of humanity in making war
on enemy ships.
3. The United States cannot allow
the relations between the belligerents
to operate in any way as an abbre-
Walton of the rights Of neutrals.
4. The representations which the
American government has made n
previous notes for disavOwal of the
intention to sink the Lusitania with
Americans on board and the request
for reparation are reiterated with re-
newed insistence.
6. The American government
realizes the unusual and abnormal
conditions which the present conflict
has created in the conduct of mari
time war and Is willing to act as an
intermediary as between the bellig-
erents to arrange q m0dus vivendi
or any other temporary arrange
melits which do not involve surren-
der by the United States of its rights.
s. The proposals by Germany to
give immunity to American ships not
ligerent ships under the American
flag are rejected with the emphatic
assertion that to accept such sugges-
tions would be to admit Germany's
right to set aside the American con-
tention based on fundamental prin-.
ciples in international law-that neu-
trails may travel anywhere on the
high seas on unresisting ships of any
nationality, even IL carrying contra
band.
Secretary Lansing announced that
the text of the note will be given
out here for publication in the Sat
urday morning papers. Concerning
the future conduct of German sub
marines. the note dees not require
an answer as 1t announces the Unit
ed States intention to regard as un-
friendly any further violation of In
ternational law resulting in the loss
of American lives and renews the de-
mand for a disavowal of intention
to sink the Lusitania and request for
reparation.
l. is likely these points and the
United States willingness to act as
Intermediary between the belliger-
ents to adjust the rules of maritime
warfare will be the basis for further
discussion by Germany.
The notes final statement is that
the United States takes the unalter-
able position that the accepted rules
of international law must govern
neutral rights. The note does not
disclose what will be the United
States action il the demands are dis
regarded but the general under
standing prevails that q disaster
similar to that of the Lusitania
means an immediate assembling of
congress.