The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-28
NOTE TO GERMANY FINAL.
UNITED STATES WATCHING EF-
Feet ON OFFICIAL BERLIN
OF "UNFRIENDLY"
WARNING.
rotest To Britain Next Will Deal
With Interference With American
Commerce by Allies.

washington, July 22.-The United
states government, before determin-
Ing the next step in it's general diplo-
matte policy, will for brief period
await indications from official ouar-
ters In Berlin as to the reception of
the new note warning Germany that
the loss of American lives through
further violation of neutral rights
would be regarded as "unfriendly."
The note, started on it's way to Ber-
lin late last night, probably will be
delivered by Ambassador Gerard to-
morrow. 1t will be given out by the
State department for publication in
Saturday morning newspapers.
Everywhere in official quarters it
pointed out today that this document
speaks the final word on how the
United States government would re-
gard further transgression of its
rights. The general trend of COM
ment was that the repetition of such
a disaster as befell the Lusitania
would mean the 'convening of con-
sress by President Wilson for consid.
Grafton of the action to be taken.
In event that the status quo Is
maintained, however, and there are
indications through official or unoffi.
cial channels that German submarines
In future will conform to the rules of
international law in saving the lives
OF Americans on unresitsing mer-
chantmen, President Wilson will take
up very soon the situation that has
arisen with Great Britain over inter-
ferences with American commerce by
the allies.
For several weeks note has been
completed, almost ready
to be sent to the British government,
reiterating the protest against devia-
tions from international law in the
operations OF the order in council
against commerce with Germany.
The note has not been sent because
President Wilson has been unwilling
to give the impression in Berlin that
the controversy between the United
States and Germany in any way could
be conditioned on the progress of the
American governments negotiations
with other belligerents.
1t became known today. however.
that ic there are indications that the
new American note to Germany is re-
ceived in friendly spirit and there
appears no intention further to vio-
late neutral rights on the high seas,
the new protest to Great Britain will
be dispatched. probably within the
next fortnight.
Data is being gathered at the State
department, but the new note probab-
ly will not deal to any extent with
specific instances, contending chiefly
for the general principles involved
with renewed insistence on modifica-
tions in the order in council to con-
form with what the United States re-
CARDS as the accepted rules of interna-
uonal law. The recent filing of a !e.
gal caveat announcing that orders in
council and British municipal law do
not AFFECT the rights Of American citi-
zens under international law was the
first step in the policy which the
United States is pursuing to obtain
acauiescence in it's point of view.
Interests centered for the most
part today in official and diplomatic
on the nature of the new
note to Germany. Sufficient of its
contents had become generally known
to cause widespread comment on the
apparently determined position talk
en- by the United States.
No progress has been made in the
investigation of the case Of the Brit
1911 iihcf oIuuIld, Ut WnlCn the Ger
man submarine is alleged to have
fred torpedo without warning. No
evidence has been received to estab-
lish beyond doubt that the torpedo
was fired, and until this is available
1T was said in official quarters the
case probably would not be pressed.
None of the American passengers on
the Orduna were awake at the time
of the attack, and the State depart
ment, it is understood, is reluctant to
act on what might be construed as
partisan testimony. such as the state
ments of the officers and crew of a
British vessel. AS yet no report has
been asked from Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin because n prima facie case
has not been established.
PROFESSOR MADE SECRETARY.