McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-07-30
.U.S.SENOs STRONG
NOTE TO GERMANY
THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE
OF OUR NEUTRAL RIGHTS,
SAYS WILSON.
GRAVE CRISIS PRESENTED
Washington Notifies Berlin That Any
Further Violation of Our Rights
viii BE Considered DELHI
erateIy Unfriendly."

l
Washington.-The American note on
submarine warfare, presented at Ber-
lin July % by Ambassador Gerard,
was made public here. 1t reveals that
Germany has been informed it is the
intention of the United States to re.
gard as deliberately unfriendly" any
repetition by German naval command
ers of acts in contravention of Ameri-
can rights.
Among the points in the new note
are:
First-The assumption by the United
States that Germany by declaring her
submarine warfare to be retaliatory
measure against the alleged unlawful
acts Of her enemies, has admitted that
the destruction of unresisting mer-
chantment without warning is illegal.
Second = German submarine COM
manders already have proven that
they can save the passengers and
crews of vessels and can act in con-
formity with the laws of humanity in
making war on enemys ships.
Third-The United States cannot G!
low the relations between the bellig-
erents to operate in any way as an
abbreviation of the rights of neutrals
and therefore any violation of the
principles for which the American
government contends, resulting In a
loss of American lives, will be viewed
as "unfrinedly."
Fourth-The representations which
the American government has made
in previous notes for disavowal of the
intention to sink the Lusitania with
Americans aboard and the request for
reparation are reiterated with re-
newed insistence.
Fifth--The American government
realizes the unusual and abnormal
conditions which the present conflict
has created in the conduct of maritime
war and is willing to act as an inter
mediary as between the belligerents to
arrange modus vivendi or any other
temporary arrangements which do not
involve surrender by the United
States of its rights.
Sixth-The proposals made by Ger
many to give immunity to American
ships not carrying contraband and to
four belligerent ships under the Amer
lean flag are rejected with the en-
phatic assertion that to accept such
suggestion would be to admit Ger
many's right to set aside the Ameri-
can contention based on fundamental
principles in international law-that
neutrals may travel anywhere on the
high seas on unresisting ships of any
nationality, even If carrying contra.
| band.
Text Of the Note.
dor Gerard.
Department of State,
Washington, July 81, 1918.
"You are instructed to deliver text
TALLY the following note to the minis
ter of foreign affairs:
"The note Of the imperial govern
ment dated the 9Th of July, 1915, has
received the careful consideration of
the government of the United States,
and 1t regrets to be obliged to say that
1t has found 1t very unsatisfactory, be-
cause 1t fails to meet the real differ
ences between the two governments
and indicates no way in which the &C
cepted principles of law and humanity
may be applied in the grave matter in
controversy, but proposes, on the con-
trary, arrangements for partial sus-
pension Of those principles which vir-
tually set them aside.
"The government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the imperial German government
recognizes without reservation the
validity Of the principles insist
ed on in the several communica-
tions which this government has ad-
dressed to the imperial German gov
eminent with regard to its announce
ment of war zone and the use of sub
marines against merchantmen on the
high seas-the principle that the high
seas are free, that the character and
cargo Of merchantmen must first be
ascertained before she can lawfully be
seized or destroyed and that the lives
Of noncombatants may in no case be
put In jeopardy unless the vessel resists
or seeks to escape after being sum-
moned to submit to examination; for
| belligerent act OF retaliation is per Sc
an act beyond the law, and the de-
tense Of an act as retaliatory is an ad-
mission that 1t is illegal.
Can't Change Neutral Rights.
1.-THE government of the United
States is, however, keenly disappoint-
ed to find that the imperial German
government regards itself as In large
degree exempt from the obligation to
observe these principles, even where
neutral vessels are concerned, by what
1t 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 gov
eminent of the United States cannot
discuss the policy of the government
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Berlin ls Silent
Berlin.-The few officials of the for