The weekly soliphone., 1915-07-23

Washington, July 21.-The re-
ply of the United States to the
German note will contain an ex-
preston by this government that
| it would be obliged to regard with
grave concern or as an "un-
friendly act" any further attack by
German submarines on an unarmed,
nonresisting merchantmen, with the
consequent loss of American life.
The phrasing of this warning to
Germany was the task carried over
from Yesterdays cabinet discussion,
and it is understood to have been
the subject of frequent communi-
cations between the president and
Secretary of State Lansing.
Officials expressed the view to-
day that a mere reaffirmation of
I threadbare argumnets would not
change the situation materially,
but that the selection of a new and
vigorous phrase was not only nee
essary, but would give Germany a
! final chance to express an inten-
ton to take precautions to safe
guard Americans.
Officials are not certain whether
the words "unfriendly act" or
grave concern" will be used. This
is to be a matter of final judgment,
but tonight it seemed that the
words "unfriendly act'' will be Sc
lected.
The use of such a phrase may
carry with it important conse-
quences. Underlying such a state
ment to Germany would be recog-
milton of the duty of this govern
ment to forcibly and vigorously
protest against any future loss of
American life and to make de-
mand in the shape of an ultimatum
that disavowal and reparation
should be made at once. Failure
by Germany to yield in such an
even might be followed by the
breaking off of diplomatic rela-
tons.
In the opinion of the state de-
partment, the United States could
do no less than tell Germany that
if the offense is repeated she would
be acting in distinctly unfriendly
spirit for the reason that Germany,
as this government has been led to
believe, has given her submarine
commanders instructions to OBJ
serve the reules of international
law with reference to American
ships. The United States, how
ever, goes somewhat further than
the assertion of the rights of Am
orleans on American ships, and
holds clearly that Germany would
have to be held to strict accounta-
bility if American lives were lost
on any neutral ship which had been
unlawfully dealt with by German
submarines.
State department officials said
today that they could not conceive
of any phase of international law
covering the subject which had not
been discussed already in the notes
between Germany and the United
States 1t is declared that Germany
knows thoroughly the position of
rine war and that, up to a very
recent date, the United States re-
garded it as illegal. On the other
hand, the United States knows
that there has been an apparent
radical change in the conduct of
the submarine warfare by Ger
many and that the future friendly
relations between the two coun-
tries will depend upon Germany's
adherence to her present method of
operation. This accounts, it is
stated, for the friendly character
of the new American note. 1t was
taken into consideration, neverthe-
less, that the United States could
not rest on the issue as presented
in the last German note and that
intimations should be made to Ger
many that she could continue to
have regard for international law
in her submarine warfare zone, or
forfeit the regard of this govern
ment.
The character of this intimation
was the cause of the delay in send
ing the note and also of some diff
ferences of opinion between the
president and his advisers as to the
vigor of certain other language to
be employed.
The United States will not adopt
Germany's suggestion of absolute
immunity for American vessels eff
! they do not carry contraband," and
! the putting under American regis