The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-07-31


note sent to the American anhas-
sador at Berlin on the 21st Of July
for presentation to the German gov
ernment. This is not only notice to
Germany, but to all other nations as
well. that the United States is de-
ternined to maintain it's rights as q
neutral sat any cost" and that fur
ther violation thereof on the part of
German naval commanders will be re-
parded as deliberately unfriendly."
4 The note was framed by Secretary
Of State Lansing, revised by President
Wilson, approved by the cabiEet and
transmitted by cable to Ambassador
Gerard with instructions to deliver it
te the German minister of foreign af
fairs. 1t reads as follows:
"The note of the imperial German
government, daSI1 the 8th of July,
19f5. has received the careful con-
sideration of the government of the
United States, and it regrets to be
obliged to say that it has found it
very unsatisfactory, because It fails
to meet the real differences between
the two governments, and indicates
mo way in which the accepted prlnc1-
nles of law and humanity may be ap-
nlied in the grave matter in contro-
versy. but proposes, on the contrary,
ARRANGEMENTS for a partial suspension
of those principles which virtually set
them aside.
sThe government Of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
imperial German government recog-
niZes without reservation the Valldlty
of the principles insisted on IN the
4 several communications which this
spoyernment 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
q the principle that the high seas are
free. that the character and cargo OF
a merchantmen must be ascertalned
before she can lawfully be seized or
DESTROYED, and that the lives of nom
combatants may in no case be put In
Jeopardy, unless the vessel resists, or
seeks to escape after being summoned
to surnit to examination; for being
erent act of retaliation is per Sc an
act beyond the law and the defense OF
an act as retaliatory is an admission
that it is illegal.
ssThe 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 concerned, by
what II believes the policy and prac
tice of the government of Great
Britain to be in the present war with
regard to neutral commerce. The I'M
perial German government Will readl-
iy understand that the government of
the United States cannot discuss the
policy Of the government of Great
Britain with regard to neutral trade
and that it must regard the conduct OF
other belligerent governments as ir-
relevant to any discussion with the
imperial German government OF what
this government regards as grave and
unjustifiable violations of the rights
Of American citizens by German mas
val commanders.
illegal and inhuman acts, how
ever justifable they may be thought
to be against an enemy who is be-
lieved to have acted in contravention
of law and humanity, are manifestly
indefensible when they deprive neu-
trails of their acknowledged rights,
particularly when they violate the
right to life itself. If a belligerent
cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives of neutrals,
as well as their property, humanity, as
well as justice and due regard for
the dignity of neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be discon-
tinued.
IF persisted in it would in such
circumstances constitute an unpar-
donable offence against the sovereign
ty of the neutral nation affected. The
government of the United States is
not unmindful of the extraordinary
conditions created by this war, nor
of the radical alterations of circum-
stance and method of attack produced
by the use of instrumentalities of
naval warfare which the nations of
the world can not have had in view
when the existing, rules of interna-
tional law were formulated, and it is
ready to make every reasonable al
Torrance for these novel and unex-.
pected aspects of war at sea; but it
cannot consent to abate any essen
tial or fundamental right Of its peo-
pie because of a mere alteration
of circumstance. The rights of neu-
principle, not upon expediency, and
the principles are immutable. 1t is
the duty and obligation of belliger-
ents to find way to adopt the new
circumstances to them.
"The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have char
acterized the activity of the imperial
German navy within the so-called
war-zone in substantial accord with
the accepted practices of regulated
warfare. The whole world has look
ed with interest and increasing salts
faction at the demonstration of the
possibility by German naval COM
manders. 1t is manifestly possible,
therefore, to lift the whole practice of
submarine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused &nd remove the
chief cause of offense.
In view of the admission of lille
gaiity made by the imperial govern
ment when it pleaded the right Of re-
taliatlon iii defense of its acts, and
IN view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
q naval warfare, the government of
tne United States cannot believe that
tne imperial government will longer
refrain from disavowing the wanton
act of its naval commander in sinking
the Lusitania, or from offering repara-