Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-07-24

lean note to Germany regarding sub
marine warfare, which was delivered to the
foreign office at Berlin today by Ambassador
Gerard:
The secretary of state to Ambassador
Department of State, Washington, July u,
1915.
You are instructed to deliver textually the
following note to the minister for foreign af-
fairs
The note of the imperial German govern
ment dated the Sth of July, 1915, has re-
ceived the careful consideration of the govern
ment of the United States, and it regrets to
be obliged to say that it has found it very
unsatisfactory, because it fails to meet the
real differences between the two governments
and indicates no way III which the accepted
principles of law and humanity may be applied
in the grave matter in controversy, but pro-
poses, on the contrary, arrangements for
partial suspension of these principles which
virtually set them aside
The government Of the United States notes
with satisfaction that the imperial German gov
Crnment recognizes without reservation the
validity of the principles insisted i'll the sew
eral communications which this government
has addressed to the imperial German gov
Grnment with regard to its announcement of
war zone and the use of submarines against
merchantmen on the high seas-the princ-
pie that the high seas are free that the char
acter and cargo of a merchantmen must first
be aScertaned before she can lawfully be
seized or destroyed, and that the lives of non
combatants may in no case be put in jeopardy
unless the vessel resists, or seeks to escape,
after being summoned to submit to examina-
ton; for belgerent act of retaliation is,
per Sc, act beyond the law, and the de-
fense of an act as retaiatOry is an admission
that it is illegal
U. S. Disappointed.
The government of the United States is,
however keenly disappointed to find that the
imperial German government regards itself
as i'll large degree exempt from the obligation
to observe these principles, even where neutral
vessels are concerned, by what it believes the
policy and practice of the government of Great
Britain to be in the present war with regard
to neutral commerce. The imperial German
government will readily understand that the
government of the United States cannot discuss
the policy of the government of Great Britain
with regard to neutral trade except with that
government ITSELF and that it must regard the
conduct of other belligerent governments as
irrelevant to any discussion with the imperial
German government of what this government
regards as grave and unjustifiable violations
Va
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 indefensible when they deprive neu-
trails of their acknowledged rights, particularly
when they violate the right to life itself.
If belligerent cannot retaliate against an
enemy without injuring the lives of neutras, as
well as their property humanity as well as
justice and due regard for the dignity of
neutral powers should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. If persisted in, it would
in such circumstances constitute an unpardon-
able offense against the sovereignty of the neu-
trail 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 circumstances and
method of attack produced by the use of in
strumentalities of naval warfare, which the
nations of the world cannot 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 can
not consent to abate any essential or funda-