The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-07-24
Full Text of Latest Note to Germany

WASHINGTON, July 24-The fol
lowing is the official text Of the latest
American note to Germany regarding
submarine warfare, which was dclly.
cred TO the foreign office ut Berlin to.
day by Ambassador Gerard
Department " state. Washington,
July u, 1915. The Secretary OF State
10 Ambassador Gerard
"iou are instructed to deliver text.
ually the following n0te to the minis
ter for foreign affairs
The note " the imperial German
government dated the 9Th OF July.
1915 has received the careful consld.
Grafton Of the government Of the
United States, and 1t regrets to be OBJ
liged to say that It has found It very
unsatisfactory, because II 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 pro
poses, N the contrary, arrangements
for a partial suspension ~ these prin-
ciplea which virtually set them aside.
THE government Of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
imperial German government reCog-
nlzes without reservation the validity
" the principles insisted In the sew
ernl communications which this gov.
eminent had addressed TO the imperial
German government with regard to It's
announcement Of Il war and the use
Of submarine against merchantmen
on the high seAs-the principle that
the high seas are free that the char
aCter and cargo Of n merchantmen
must first he ascertained before she
can lawfully he seized or destroyed,
aud that the lives Of n-combatants
may In no case he put ~ jeopardy un.
less the vessel r%csists, Or seeks to es.
cape, after being summoned 10 submit
to examination for a %helligerent act
" retaliation IL, per Se, an act beyond
the law, and the defense Of nm act IA
retaliatory IL an admission that n Is
/ Illegal.
Exemption Feature NsappOints
THE government Of the United
state, is however. keenly disappointed
to find that the imperial German gov.
crnment regards itself as IN large de.
gree exempt from the obligation ia
observe these principles ever where
neutral vessels are concerned by what
II believes the policy and practice OF
the government ~ Great Britain TO he
the present war with regard TO neutral
commerce. The imperial German 80 ?
,rnment win readily underFtmG tina,
the government Of the United States car
not discuss the policy Of the government
" Great Britain with regard to neu
trail trade except with that govern
ment itself, and that II must regard
the conduct OF other belligerent gov
ernmentS as irrelevant 10 any discus
sion with the imperial German gov
eminent Of what this government re
CARDS as grave and unjustlfiable VIC
lntions Of the rights ~ American cltl
zens by German naval commanders.
illegal and lnhuman acts, howeye
j%ustifiahle they may I've thought to he
against an enemy who IL believed h
have acted In contravention Of Law
and humanity, are manifestly lnds
fensihle when they deprive neutral
Of their acknowledged rights, particu
lhrly when they violate the right /
life itself. II a belligerent cannot re
tAliate against an enemy without In
turing the lives ~ neutrals as well a
their property, humanity as well a
Justice and a due regard for the dig
nifty Of neutral powers should dlctat
that the practice I've discontinued. |
persisted IN, II would In such clrcum
stances constitute an unpardonabl
offense against the sovereignty Of tn
neutral nation affected.
The government Of the Unite
States is not unmlndful OF the extrp
ordinary conditions created by hi
= war OF ~ the radical alterations q