The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-28
UNITED STATES SENDS FINAL NOTE :
!. Of WARNING TO GERMAN GOVERNMENT
CALLS HALT ON GERMAN EQUI-
!, YOCATION-LAW OF MIGHT
MUST GIVE WAY TO
LAW OF RIGHT.
President Insists Upon
Nations Rights


Would Uphold Freedom of the
The following is the text of the
note delivered by Ambassador Ger
ard to the German Government on
Friday in reply to the latest German
note:
The Secretary of State to Ambas-
sador Gerard-(Telegram:)
Department of State, Washington,
July 81, 1915.-You are instructed
to deliver textually the following
note to the minister for foreign af-
fairs: -.
The note of the Imperial German
Government dated the 9Th of July,
1915, has received the careful con-
.sideration of the Government 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
athe two Governments and indicates
no way in which the accepted princi-
pies of law and humanity may be ap-
piled in the grave matter in contro'
versy, but proposes, Or, the contrary,
arrangements for a partial suspen-
.sion of those principles which yirtu,
! ally set. them aside. ,.r.,.r.. 1. e.
The Government of the United
States notes with satisfaction that
the Imperial German Government re-
cognizes without reservation the val
idity of the principles insisted on in
the several communications which
this Government had addressed to
the Imperial German Government
with regard to its announcement OF
q 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 car.
go Of a merchantmen must first be
ascertained before she can lawfully
be seized or destroyed, and that the
lives of non-combatants may in mo
case be put in jeopardy unless the
vessel resists or seeks to escape after
being summoned to~submit to. exani.
nation; for belligerent act Of re.
taliation is per Sc an act beyond the
law, and the defence of an act as
retaliatory is an admission that it is
illegal.
Issue Only With Germany. =
The Government of the United
States is. however, keenly disap,
pointed to find that the Imperial Ger.
man Government regards itself as in
large degree exempt from the obliga.
ton 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 I'm
perial German Government will read
lily understand that the Government
of the United States cannot discuss
the policy of Great Britain with re.
gard to neutral trade except with
that Government itself, and that ii
must regard the conduct Of other
belligerent Governments as irrele.
want to any discussion with the I'm
perial German Government of what
this Government regards as grave
and unjustifable violation Of the
rights Of American citizens by Ger.
man 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 human.
ity, are manifestly indefensible rher
they deprive neutrals of their &C.
konwledged rights, particularly when
they violate the right to life itself
If a belligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without injuring
the lives of neutrals, as well as theil
property, humanity, as well as JUS
tice and a due regard for the dignity
of neutral Powers, should dictate
that the practice be discontinued. II
persisted in it would in such circum'
stances constitute an unpardonable
offence against the sovereignty of the
neutral nation affected. The Gov
ernment of the United States is moi
unmindful of the extraordinary con
80 /0ontn,oJ fropo nauo five