The Monroe journal., 1915-07-27
WHAT MIR. WILSON
SAID TO GERMANY.
Tells That Power That Its Attitude
is Wholly Unsatisfactory and That
Any Other killing of Americans
Will BE Regarded As Deliberately
Cnfriendly.

VIII lie Regarded As Deiiberateiy
Unfriendly.
On Friday the American Minister
al Berlin delivered the official text of
the reply by President Wilson to Ger
many. The note in full is as follows:
The note of the Imperial German
government dated the Sth of July.
1915, has received the careful con-
sideration of the government of the
United States, and il regrets TO be
obliged to say that ii has found il
very unsatisfactory. because it 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 proposes. on the contrary. ar
rangements for partial suspension
of those principles which virtually
set them aside.
The government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that the
Imperial German government re-
cogniZes without reservation the
validity of the principles insisted on
in the several communications which
this government has addressed TO the
Imperial German government with re-
gard to its announcement of war
zone and the use of submarines
against merchantmen on the high
seas-the principle that the high seas
are free. that the character and cargo
of a merchantmen must first be as
certained 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 exami-
nation for a belligerent act of re-
taliation is per Sc an act beyond the
law. and the defense of an act as re-
taliatory is an admission that il is
illegal.
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 thse principles. even where
neutral vessel are concerned. by what
il believes the policy and practice of
the government of Great Britain to
be in the present war with regard to
neutral commerce. The Imperial Ger
man government will readily under
stand that the government of the
United States can not discuss the
policy of the government of Great
Britain with regard to neutral trade.
except with that government itself,
and that ii 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 of the rights
of American citizens by German naval
commanders.
Illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiable they may be against an
enemy who Is believed to have acted
in contraventon of law and humani-
ty, are manifestly indefensible when
they deprive neutrals of their ae-
knowledge rights, particularly when
they violate the rights TO life itself
If 4 belligerent can not retaliate
against an enemy without injuring
the lives of neutrals, as well as their
property, humanity. as well as justice
and a due regard for the dignity of
neutral powers, should dictate that
the proctice be discontinued. If
persisted in. il would in such cireum-
offense against the sovereignty of the
neutral nation affected.
The government of the United
States is not unmindful of the eX-
traordinary conditions created by this
L., oil nf al
cumstances and methods of attack
produced by the use of instrumental
lities of naval warfare which the ma
tons of the world cannot have had
in view when the existing rules of
international law were formulated,
and il is ready TO make every reason
able allowance for these novel and
unexpected aspects of war at sea,
but IL cannot consent to abate any es-
sental or fundamental rights of its
people because of mere alteration
of circumstances. The rights of neu-
trails in time OF war are based upon
principle. not upon expediency, and
the principles are immutable. The
duty and obligation of belligerents is
to find way to adapt the new cir
cumstances to them.
The events of the last two months
have clearly indicated that 1t is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have char
acterized the activity of the Imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the
accepted practices of regulated war
fare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac-
ton at the demonstration of that pos
sibility by German naval command
ers. 1t is manifestly possible. there
fore, to lift the whole practice of
submarine attack above criticism
which il has aroused and remove the
chief causes of offense.
In veiw OF the admission of Illegal
ty made by the Imperial German gov
eminent when il pleaded the right of
retaliation in defense of its acts. and
in view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
OF naval warfare. the government Of
the United States can not believe the
Imperial government will longer re-
frain from disavowing the wanton act
of its naval commander In sinking
the Lusitania or from reparation for
the American lives lost so far as re-
paration can be made for needless
destruction Of human lives by an IL
legal act.
The government of the United