The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-30
WILSON'S NOTE IS
FRIENDLY BUT FIRM.
GERMAN NOTE UNSATISFACTORY
AS IT FAILS TO MEET THE
REAL DIFFERENCES.
Repetition Of controvcntlon OF Rights
Of American Citizens VIII be Re
eardcu by United States as
Deliberately unfriendIy.

Washington. The text or the reply
of the United States TO the German
note on the Lusitania and the general
subject OF Germany's submarine was.
fare was made public on July %
al the state department
Following is the official text OF the
latest American note TO Germany.
The secretary OF state to Ambassa.
dor Gerard, Department OF State.
Washington. July 81. ls15.--You are
instructed 10 deliver textually the fol-
lowing note to the minister OF foreign
Affairs.
The note OF the imperial German
government dated the sth OF July,
1915, has received the careful con
sideration OF the government OF the
United States. aud II regrets to be
obliged to say that It has found II
very unsatisfactory. because 1t fails
90 meet the real differences between
the two governments and Indicates no
way in which the accepted principles
OF law and humanity may be applied
in the grave matter in controversy,
but proposes, on the contrary, ar
rangements for partial suspension
Of those principles which virtually
set them aside.
One Point Satisfactory.
The government OF the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
imperial German government recog-
nizes without reservation the validity
of the principles insisted upon In the
several communications which this
government has addressed to the Inn
perial German government with re.
gard 10 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 merchantmen must first
be ascertained before she can law.
fully be seized or destroyed. and that
the lives OF non-combatants may in no
case be put In jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape after
being summoned to submit to exam.
nation; for belligerent act OF retail
alton Is per Sc an act beyond the law.
and the defense OF an act as retalia-
tory il an admission that II is Illegal
Keen Disappointment.
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 concernd, by what
II believes the policy and practice OF
the government OF Great Britain to be
fY. ha ..tftA .rI 49,
tral commerce. The imperial German
government will readily understand
that the government OF the United
States cannot discuss the policy OF
che government OF Great Britain with
regard to neutral trade except with
that government itself, and that it
must regard the conduct OF other bel
ligerent governments as irrelevant TO
any discussion with the imperial Ger
man government OF what this govern
ment regards as grave and unjustif-
able violations OF the rights OF AmeeI-
can citizens by German naval com
manders 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
Dianifestly indefensible when they de.
priye neutrals of their acknowledged
rights, particularly when they violate
the right to life itself If belliger-
ent cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives OF neutrals,
as well as their property. humanity as
We'll as Justice and a due regard for
The dignity OF neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be diseon-
tinued, II persisted in 1t would In
such circumstances. constitute an UNI
lpardonable offense against the sover-
eighty OF the neutral nation affected
The government OF the United States
is not unmindful OF the extraordinary
conditions created by this war or OF
the radical alterations OF circum-
stances and method OF attack produced
by the use Of instrumentalities of
naval warfare which the nations OF
the world cannot have had in view
when the existing rules OF interna.
iional law were formulated, and II Is
ready 10 make every reasonable al
lCwance for these novel and unexpect-
ed aspects OF war at sea- but II can.
not consent to abate any essential or
fundamental right OF It's people be- |
cause OF mere alteration OF eircum-
stance. The rights OF neutrals in time |
OF war are based upon principle, not
upon expedieney, and the principles |
are immutable.
Duty Of Belllgerents.
It is the duty and obligation OF bel |
liieerents TO find a way TO adapt the |
new circumstances 70 them
The events OF the past two months |
have clearly Indicated that Il Is pos
chile and practicable 10 conduct such |
submarine operations as have charac. !
So - r...t..- a.