The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-08-05
WILSON'S NOTE IS
|. Erie NDLY BUT FIRM
GERMAN NOTE ,,ns.-,.
FAILS TO MEET THE
REAL DIFFERENCES
RepettIon Of ccntrov.,.,.
american Citizens VIM be Re-
sAraea Sy United States a.
deliberately unfrIendly.

Washington.-The text Of the 49,
OF the United States to the cermsn
note on the Lusitania and the genera .s,r,
subject Of Germany's submarine w.
iare was made public on JuIv %
at the state department
Following is the official ,ert a, ,ha
latest American note to Gernanv
The secretary Of state To Auhsss.
dor Gerard. Department Of Stata
washington, July 81, ls1s.-yon are
, ,ns.lucfeo 70 deliver textually the fol-
lowing note to the minister Of foreign
Inc note OF the imperial German
government, dated the 9Th NJ TrIv
1915, has received the careful Con-
sideratton of the government Of Inc
United States, and 1t regrets to he
oDllged TO say that it has found n
very unsatisfactory. because Il fails
to meet the real differences between
the two governments and indicates no
way III which the accepted PRINCIPLES
OF law and humanity may be applied
IN the grave matter in controversy.
but proposes, on the contrary ar.
rangeInents for a 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.
nlzes without reservation the validity
OF the principles insisted upon in the
several communications which this
government has addressed to the I'm.
perial German government with re-
gard to its announcement of a 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 ascertained before she can law
fully be seized or destroyed, and that
the lives of noH-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 is an admission that 1t 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 tn large
degree exempt from the obligation to
observe. these principles, even where
neutral vessels are concernd, by what
it believes the policy and practice of
the government of Gree. Britain to be
in the present war with regard to neu-
trail commerce. The imperial German
government will. readily understand
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 1t
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 unjustih
able violations of tie rights OF Ameri-
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 W have acted In contra
veution of law and humanity, are
nianifestly indefensible when they de-
prive neutrals of their acknowledged
rights, particularly when they violate
the right to life itself. If a belllger-
emit cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives Of neutrals'
as we'll as their property, humanity as
well as Justice and q due regard for
the dignity of neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be dlscon-
tinued. If persisted in 1t would, IN
such circumstances, constitute an I'M
pardonable offense against the soVeE
eianty of the neutral nation affected.
The government of the United States
is not unmindful Of the extraordinary
col additions created by this war or OF
the radical alterations OF circum-
stances and method Of attack producSo
by the use of instrumentalities OF
nsval warfare which the nations OF
TIL world cannot have had In We"
when the existing rules OF interna-
tional law were formulated, and II Is
ready TO make every reasonable a.
lowance for these novel and une1oect-
ed aspects of war at sea; but " can
not consent to abate any essential OF
fundamental right of its people De
cause of a mere alteration OF circuin-
stance The rights of neutrals in time
Of war are based upon principle, NOT
nnon expediency, and the principles
are immutable.
Duty Of 5ellIserents'
II is the duty and obligation OF pei
l,perents TO find a way to adapt lne
n ew circumstances to them
The events of the past two mouths
4, .S..I,. indicated that IL Is p 5