The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-25
u. S. Note Warning to Berlin

cannot consent to abate any essential
or fundamental right of it's people be-
cause of mere alteration of circum-
stance.
The rights of neutrals in time OF
war are based upon principle, not
upon expediency, and the principles
are immutable. 1t Is the duty and oo'
legation Of belligerents to find way
to adapt the new circumstances to
them.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t is pos
sible and practicable to conduct sucn
submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activities 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 commanders.
1t is manifestly possible, therefore, TO
lift the whole practice OF submarine
attack above the criticism which it
has aroused and remove the chief
causes of offense.
In view OF the admission Of Illegal
ity made by the imperial government
when it pleaded the right Of retalia-
, ton 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 cannot believe that
the imperial government will longer
refrain from disavowing the wanton
act of its naval commander in sink
ing the Lusitania or from Offering
reparation of the American lives lost,
! so far as reparation can be made for
| a needless destruction of human lie
by an illegal act.
The government OF the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
| friendly spirit in which it is made,
cannot accept the suggestion of the
| imperial German government that
certain vessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed. The
very agreement would, by implication,
subject other vessels to illegal attack
and would be curtailment, and
therefore an abandonment, of the
principles for which this government
contends and which in times of calm
, err counsels every nation would con-
cede as of course.
! The government of the United
, States and the imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
in urging the very principles upon
! which the government of the United
States now so 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 whatever quarter
violated, without compromise and at
anv cost. It invited the practical CO.
operation of the imperial German gov
eminent at this time, when co-opera-
ton NAV accomplish most and this
great common object be most strik-
| ingly and effectively achieved.
| The imperial German government
expresses the 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 obliged to insist
upon it. by whomsoever violated or
ignored, in the protection of its own
citizens, but is also deeply interested
| in seeing it made practicable between
| the belligerents themselves, and holds
| Itself ready dL any Time " eISe GO 'Ai.O
common friend who may be prlvl-
| legged to suggest way.
I 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
eminent of the German nation impels
! it to press very sohamnly upon the
! imperial German government the
necessity for scrupulous observance
of neutral rights in this critical mat
ter.
Friendship itself prompts it to say
to the imperial government that repe-
tition by the commanders Of German
naval vessels of acts in contravention
of those rights must be regarded by
th., government Of the United States,
when they affect American citizens,
as deliberately unfriendly.