Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-07-29
ANSWER TO KAISER.
Demands Mean Break Unless
Germany Yields.
GERMANY's ACTS NOT LEGAL
President EmphaticaIly Declares This
Country viii Not Recede from
Position Taken In Its First
Note to Germany.

Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany re
garding submarine warfare, which wal
delivered to the foreign office at Der
lin yesterday by Ambassador Gerard.
The Secretary OF State to Ambas
sador Gerard:
Department OF State. Washington
d. c., July Fl, 1915.-You are instruct
ed to deliver textually the following
note to the minister of foreign affairs:
"The note of the imperial German
government, dated the 9Th Of July
1915, has received the careful con
sideration Of the government of the
United States and 1t regrets to be
obliged to say that 1t has found II
very unsatisfactory. because it fails
to 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, arrange
ments for partial suspension OF those
principles which virtually set them
aside
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 communication which this gov
eminent has addressed to the imper-
ial 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 a
merchantmen must first be ascertain
ed before she can lawfully be seized
or destroyed, and that the lives of
noncombatants may in no case be put
in jeopardy unless the vessel resists
or seeks to escape after being sum-
moned to submit to examination; for
a belligerent act in retaliation is per
Sc an act beyond the law, and the
defense of an act as retaliatory Is an
dQUllSSlOu tudl W 10 lllSSdi.
1.-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 concerned, by
what it believes the policy and prac-
tice of the government of Great Brit
ain to be in the present war with re-
gard to neutral commerce.
"The imperial German government
will readily understand that the gov
eminent OF the United States cannot
discuss the policy of the government
of Great Britain with regard to neu-
trail trade except with that govern
ment itself, and that 1t must regard
the conduct of other belligerent gov
ernments as irrelevant to any discus
sion with the imperial German govern
ment OF what this government regards
as grave and unjustifable violations
OF the rights of American citizens by
German naval commanders.
illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiable they may be thought to be
against an enemy who is believed to
have acted in contravention OF law
and humanity, are manifestly indie
fensible when they deprive neutrals
of their acknowledged rights, particu
larly when they violate the right to
life itself. II belligerent cannot re
taliate against an enemy without in
Turing the lives Of neutrals, az well
as their property, humanity, as well
as justice and due regard for the
dignity of the neutral powers, should
dictate that the practice be discon'
tinued. II persisted in 1t would In
such circumstances constitute an un'
pardonable offense against the sover'
eighty of the neutral nation affected.
THE government of the United
States Is not unmindful Of the extra
ordinary conditions created by this
war or OF the radical alterations of cir
cumstances and method OF attack pro
duced by the use of instrumentalities
of naval warfare which the nations
of the world cannot have had in view
when the existing rules Of internation-
al law were formulated, and 1t is
ready to make every reasonable allow
ance for these novel and unexpected
aspects OF war at sea; but 1t cannot
consent to abate any essential or
fundamental right of its people be
cause of mere alteration of circum
stances. The rights Of neutrals in
time of war are based upon principle,
not upon expediency, and the princi'
pies are immutable. 1t is the duty and
obligation OF belligerents to find a
way to adopt the new circumstances
to them.
win Address Graduates.