The Elk Mountain pilot., 1915-07-31

l" 1t is the Quty ana ODlleatlOu Ol Ucl-
ligerents to find a way to adapt the
new circumstances to them.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that, it is
possible and practicable to conduct
such submarine operations as have
characterized the activity of the i'm
perial German navy within the so
called war zone in substantial accord
with the accepted practices of regu-
lated warfare.
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration of that possibility
by German naval commanders.
1t is manifestly possible, therefore,
to lift the whole practice of submarine
war above the criticism which it has
aroused and remove the chief causes
of offense.
Germany's Proposal Rejected.
In view of the admission of lille.
gality made by the imperial German
government, when it pleaded the right
of retaliation in defense of its acts
and in view of the manifest possibil.
ity of conforming to the established
rules of naval warfare, the govern.
ment of the United States cannot be-
lieve that the imperial German gov
errment will longer refrain from dis
avowing the wanton act of its naval
commander in sinking the Lusitania or
from offering reparation of the Amer.
lean lives lost, so far as reparation
can be made for needless destruc-
ton of human life by an illegal act.
The government of the United
States, while not indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made, can
not accept the suggestion of the i'm
perial German government that Ger.
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed. The very
agreement would, by implication, sub
ject other vessels to Illegal attack and
would be curtailment, and therefore
a. abandonment of the principles for
which this government contends, and
hich in times of calmer counsels ev.
cry nation would concede as of course.
The government of the United States
and the imperial German government
are contending for the same great OBJ
ject, have long stood together in urg
ing the very principles upon which the
government of the United States now
solemnly insists.
They are both contending for the
freedom of the seas The government
of the United States will continue to
contend for that freedom, from what
ever quarter violated, without compro
mise and at any cost.
Scrupuious Observance Demanded.
1t invites the practical cooperation
of the imperial German government
at this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great com
mon object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved. The imperial
he
hope that this object may be in some
measure accomplished even before
the present war ends. 1t can be.
The government of the United
States not only feels obligated to in
sist upon 1t, by whomsoever violated
or ignored and in the protection of its
own citizens. but is also deeply in
terested in seeing 1t made practicable
between the belligerants themselves,
and holds itself ready at any time to
act as the common friend who may
be privileged to suggest a way.
In the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the
United States and the people and gov
ernment OF the German nation impels
it to press very solemnly upon the i'm
perial German government the neces
sity for a scrupulous observance OF
neutral rights in this critical matter
Friendship itself prompts it to say to
the imperial German government that
repetition by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels of acts in contra
vention OF those rights must be re
garded by the government OF the
United States, when they affect
American citizens, as deliberately un
friendly. (Signed) LANSING.