Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-07-29
WILSON'S NOTE IS
FRIENDLY BUT FIRM
GERMAN NOTE UNSATISFACTORY
AS 1T FAILS TO MEET THE
REAL DIFFERENCES.
Repetition Of controventon Of Riahts
OF American Citizens viii be Re.
garded by United States as
Deliberately Unfriendly.

Washington.-The text of the reply .
OF the United States to the German
note on the Lusitania and the general
subject of Germany's submarine war
fare was made public on July % !
at the state department.
Following is the official text of the /
latest American note 10 Germany.
The secretary OF state to Ambassa-
dor Gerard. Department OF State,
Washington, July Il. l9l5-You are
Instructed to deliver textually the fol
lowing note to the minister of foreign
affairs
The note Of the imperial German
government dated the 8th of July.
1918. has received the careful con.
sideration Of the government OF the
United States. and 1t regrets to be
obliged 10 say that 1t 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 principles
Of law and humanity may be applied
in the grave matter in controversy.
but proposes. on the contrary. ar
engagements for partial suspension
Of those principles which virtually
set them aside.
One Point Satisfactory.
The government OF the United
States notes with satisfaction taat the
imperial German government recog-
nizes without reservation the validity
OF the principles insisted upon in the
] L.. g.,
government has addressed to the I'm
perlal 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 non-conbatants may In no
case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks 10 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 II is illegal.
Keen disappointment.
The government OF the United
States IS. however. keenly disappoint
ed 10 find that the imperial German
government regards itself as in large
degree exempt from the obligation 10
,, observe these principles. even where
neutral vessels are concernd. by what
It believes the policy and practice OF
the government OF Great Britain TO be
In the present war with regard 10 neu
trail commerce. The imperial German
| government will readily understand
that the government OF the United
States cannot discuss the policy o.
The government OF Great Britain with
regard to neutral trade except with
that government itself, and that i
must regard the conduct OF other bel
: ligerent governments as irrelevant L
any discussion with the imperial Ger
man government of what this govern
ment regards as grave and unJustih
able violations OF the rights OF Amen
can citizens by German naval com
D manders Illegal and lnhuman acts
however justifable they may BE-
4 thought to be against an enemy wh'
4 is believed to have acted in contra
|. veution OF law and humanity. arr
i n.anifestly indefensible when they de
privo neutrals OF their acknowledged
rights. particularly when they Vlolat
Tho right to life itself II helligeI
{ ont cannot retaliate against an enem.
/ without inmring the lives of neutrals
4 as we'll rs their property, humanity a
r well AS Justice and a due regard 10
: The dignity OF neutral powers shour
:. dictate that the practice De ulS'"n
tinued If persisted In 1t would, u
such circumstances. constitute d" III
nardonable offense against the soNel
- dignity of the neutral nation ahecte'
rbe government of the United state
is moi unmindml of the eNtraordlhar
conditions created by this war or @
tho radical alterations OF circuh
stonces and method OF attack produce
nv the use Of instrumentalilles
u naval warfare which the nations {
,ho world cannot have had in Vle'
whom the existing rules 81 nh'eI" III
I ,ionnl law were formulated ana II
roodv To make every reasonaoie
,ou,nce for these novel and uneNpec
ad osnacts of war at sea; but II cal
No, consent to abate any essentiai G
| fundamental right of its people d.
| cause of mere alteration OF clrcnn
| s,once The rights of neutrals in tim
| Of war are based upon principle nc
/ mon expedicncy. and the principle
| are immutable
| Duty Of Belliserents'
| II is the duty and obllgauon q. y.
| 20 and way to adapt tn
| now circumstances to them
| The events of the past TWO 'ho"'"
| have clearly Indicated that It Is POI
| chic and practicable to conduc, SUI
'',',,,ari,a operatiOns as have chara