Arizona republican., 1915-07-24
THIRD AND LAST NOTE
(Continued from Page One)

their property, humanity, as well as justice and due regard for the dig nity of neutral powers, should dictate that that practice be discontinued. If persisted in 1t would in such circum stances constitute an unpardonabGe offense against the sovereignty of the neutral nation affected.
 Principles Interchangeable
 The government of the United States is hot unmindful of the extraordinary conditions created by the war or of the radical alterations of circumstances and the method of attack produced by the new Instrumentalities of naval war fare which the nations of the world could not have had in view when the existing rules of international law were formulated and it is ready to make every reasonable allowance for these novel and unexpected aspects of war at sea; but it cannot consent to abate any essential or fundamental right of it's people because of the mere aItera- tion of circumstances. The rights, of neutrals in time of war are based upon principle and not upon expediency, and principles are immutable.
 It is the duty and obligation of bclligcrents to find~a way to adapt new circumstances to them.
 Unnecessary Offense
 Even the past two months have clearly indicated that it is possible and practicable to conduct such sub marine operations as have character ized the activity of the imperial German navy within the so-caIled war zone in substantial accord with accepted practices of regulated war fare. The whole world has looked with interest and increasing satis- faction at the demonstration of that possibility by German naval com mandcrs. It is manifestIy possible. therefore, to lift the whole practice of submarine attack above the criti- cism which it aroused and remove the chief causes of offense
 In view of the admission of ille- gality made by the Imperial govern ment when it pleaded the right of retaliation in defense of it's acts and in view of the manifest possibility of conforming to established rules of naval warfare. the government of the United States cannot believe that the imperial government will longer re- frain from disavowing the wanton act ! of its naval commander in sinking the Lusitania, or from offering rep 2 aration for American lives lost so | far as reparation can be made for the needless destruction of human life by an Illegal act.
 The government of the United ! States, while not indifferent to the { friendly spirit in which it is made, 1 cannot accept the suggestion of the {  certain vessels be designated and agreed upon which shall be free on the seas but now are illegally pres ! cribcd That very agreement would by implication subject other vessels to illegal attack and would be a and therefore an aban- donment of the principles for which this government contends and which in time the calmer counsels of every nation would concede as. of course. <
 The government of the United States and tie Imperial German gov contending for the same great object, have long stood to- gether in urging the very principles uron which the government of the United States now so solemnly in sists They are both contending for lHt AitfNpiil VI Nilt Etfho- ! iAt 6oN ernmcnt of the United States will continue to contend for that free 1om from whatever quarter it is without compromise. and at any cost It invites the practical CO., operation of the Imperial German at this time when CO operation may accomplish most that his great common object may be -fYfI. nd off achieved.
 The Sting at the End
 The Imperial German government expresses a hope that this object may be in some measure accc,2- olished. even before the present war ,nds. It can be. The government of he United States not only feels obliged to insist upon it by whom ,oever violated or ignored. in pro ection of it's own citizens,,, but it s also deeply interested in seeing 1t made practicable between the bel igerents themselves and holds itself -eady at any time to act as a com non friend who may be privileged Q suggest a way.
 Tn the meantime the very value which this government sets upon the ong unbroken friendship by the peo- 2 ,le and government of the United f states for the people, and the gov f of the German nation inn T ,cls it to impress very solemnly upon f he Imperial German government the f necessity for a scrupHlous observance if neutral rights in this critical natter.
 Friendship itself prompts it to say ! 0 the Imperial government that a i epetition by the commanders of Ger ! nan naval vessels of acts in contra f -eniiOn of those rights must he re- T arded by the government of the Jnited States when thev affect american citizens, as deliberately c
 (Signed) LANSING. It