The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-28
mote TO GERMANY
STRONG REPLY MADE in LAT
EST REPRESENTATION
FOR FREEDOM Of Sees

| FOR FREEDOM Of Sees
Germany Having Admitted Illegaity
Of Her Acts Can Hardly Defend
Them Against Neutral
States and Germany Stand To.
gether to Keep Seas Open.
Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany re-
garding submarine warfare, which
was delivered to the foreign office at
Berlin Friday by Ambassador Ger
ard:
The Secretary of State to Ambas-
sador Gerard-(Tclcgram):
Department of State, Washington,
July 21, 1915.-You are instructed
| to deliver textually the following s
note to the minister of foreign af-
| fairs:
The note of the Imperial German
government dated the eighth of July,
1915, 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
no way in which the accepted prin-
ciples of law and humanity may be
applied in the grave matter in con-
troversy, but proposes, on the con-
| trary, arrangements for a partial sus-
pension Of those principles which Vir-
tually set them aside.
The government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the Imperial German government
recognizes without reservation the
validity Of the principles insisted on
in the several communications which
this government had addressed to the
Imperial German government with
regard 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 merchantmen must first
be ascertained before she can law
fully be seized or destroyed, and that
the lives Of non-combatanIs may in
no case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape after
being summoned to submit to eXami-
nation; for a belligerent act of re-
taliation is per Sc an act beyond the
law, and the defence Of an act as re-
taliatory is an admission that it is
illegal.
The government Of the United
States is, however, keenly disap-
pointed to find that the Imperial Ger
man government regards itself as in
large degree exempt from the obliga-
ton to observe these principles even
where neutral vessals are concerned.
by what it believes the policy and
practice of the government Of Great
Britain to be in the present war with
regard to neutral commerce. The
Imperial German government will
readily understand that the govern
ment of the United States can not
discuss the policy of Great Britain
with regard to neutral trade except
with that government itself, and that
it must regard the conduct Of other
belligerent governments as irrelevant
to any discussion with the Imperial
German government Of what this
government regards as grave and un-
justifable violations of the rights of
American citizens by German naval
commanders.
Illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifable they may De thought to be
against an enemy who is believed to
have acted in contravention Of law
and humanity, are manifestly inde-
fensible when they deprive neutrals
of their acknowledged rights, partic-
ularly when they violate the right to
life itself. II belligerent can not
retaliate against an enemy without
injuring the lives of neutrals, as well
as their property, humanity, as we'll
as justice and due regard for the
dignity Of neutral powers, should die
tate that the practice be discontinu-
ed.
If persisted in it would in such cir
cumstances constitute an unpardon-
able offence against the sovereignty
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 pro-
duced by the use Of instrumentalities
orfo r-h
Of the world can not have had IN
view when the existing rules of in
ternational law were formulated, and
it is ready to make every reasonable
allowance for those novel and uneX-
pected aspects Of war at sea; but 1t
can not consent to abate any essen
tial or fundamental rights of its peo-
pie because Of a mere alteration OF
circumstances. The rights Of neu-
trails in time of war are based upon
principles. but upon eXpediency, and
the principles are immutable. 1t is
the duty and obligation of belliger-
ents to find way to adapt 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 one 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 that
possibility by German naval COM
manders. 1t is manifestly possible,
therefore, to lift the whole practice
of submarine attack above the criti-
cism which it has aroused and re-
move the chief cause of offence.
In view of the admission of illeg-
| ality made by the Imperial govern
| ment when it pleaded the right of re-
taliation in defence of its acts. and
in view of the manifest possibility OF
conforming to the established rules
of naval warfare, the government OF
the United States can not believe that