The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1915-07-29

Washington.-The note presented at
the German Foreign Office by Ambas-
sador Gerard, as viewed in Washing
ton, means that another submarine
attack on American life will result
in break between Germany and the
United States.
The climax Of President Wilson's
warning to Germany in regard to the
rights of Americans comes in the
final sentence of his note, as follows:
Friendship itself prompts it (the
! United States GOVERNMENT TO say to
the Imperial Government that repe-
tition by the commanders of German
naval vessels of acts in contravention
OF those rights must be regarded by
the Government of the United States,
when they affect American citizens, as
deliberately unfriendly"
But that is not the only expression
through which President Wilson
voices the determination of himself
and the American people. He notifies
Germany that the United States will
contend for its rights as a neutral
without compromise and at any
cost"
Practices of the German naval
! forces such as have been protested
! by this Government, if persisted in.
will constitute IAN objectionable Of
fence against the sovereignty of any
neutral nation affected"
An Equal Application.
AS against these severe statements
there is a feature of the note which
is expected to go far toward allaying
the deep anti-American feeling that is
likely to be aroused in Germany. The
Presidents warning that the United
States will contend for American
rights on the high seas without com
promise and without cost" is made to
apply equally to Great Britain as well
as to Germany. These rights will be
| protected from whatever quarter vio-
| lated" is the way Mr. Wilson puts it.
There is no doubt that this will be
! regarded both in Germany and in the
/ United States as a promise on the
/ part of this Government to deal as
| vigorously and mistakenly with Brit
ish violation of neutral rights on the
high seas as with those OF Germany
1t often has been assert I'd that could
/
convinced that the United States Gov
eminent was sincerely trying only to
assert its rights and not to favor the
| Allies as against Germany muc1 o: the
resentment caused by the submarine
issue would instantly disappear. This
| expression was deliberately written
into the note with this phase in mind.
Another Concilietcry Feature.
There is s5ill another feature of the
note in which the German Govern
ment may find some cause for graft.
fication The President. in two para
graphs written by his own hand adj
verts to the remarks of the German
note of July about the mutual in
terest of the two Governments in "the
freedom of the seas" and opens the
way to Germany to prove the sincerity
of her statement that she really de-
sires law to prevail during this war.
Declaring that both Governments
are contending for the freedom of the
seas. the note invoices the practical
cooperation of the German Govern
ment at this time when co-operation
may accomplish most"
The President not only echoes the
! expressed wish of Germany that this
object may be accomplished during
the present war but also asserts that
it can be attained.
An interpreted Warning.
The Presidents words are combined
with the assertion Of this Govern.
ment's determination to protect the
rights of American citizens at all
costs. and i'm some quarters created
the impression that they we're intend
ed to give notice that if the belliEer-
ents themselves did not enter into an
arrangement whereby American rights
would be respected ON the high seas
the United States Government would
be inclined to- take such measures as
might bee necessary to- secure such