Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-07-22

tions viii Depend Upon Future Con,
duct Of Submarine Commanders.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing. confer
ring at the White House tonight, com
pleted the new note to Germany, warn
ing her that the repetition of dis
aster such as that visited upon the
Lusitania, or any violation of Ameri,
can rights on the high seas resulting
In loss OF American lives, will be re-
garded as "unfriendly" II will be dis
patched tomorrow.
The note is in the nature of final
statement by the United States OF the
Interpretation that will be placed by
his government Oh future transgres-
sions of American rights and repeats
that the American government will
leave nothing undone to stand by the
position it has previously declared,
Among the points in the new note
are:
One-The assumption by the United
States that Germany, by declaring her
submarine warfare to be a retaliatOry
measure against the alleged unlawful
acts OF her enemies, has admitted that
the destruction of the unreSiSting mer-
chantmen without warning is illegal.
| TWo--German submarine command
ers already have proved that they can
save the passengers and crews OF yes
sells and can act i'll conformity with
/ tho 1av 1f humanity in mo II IN ua n.
on enemy ships
Three The United States cannot
allow the relations between the bellig-
erents to operate in any way as all ab-
breviation OF the rights of neutrals
and therefore, any violation of the
principles for which the American
government contends, resulting in a
loss OF American lives, will be viewed
as 'unfriendly.''
Fou THE representations which
the American government has made in
previous notes for disvowal of the in
tention to sink the Lusitania with
Americans aboard and the request for
reparation are reiterated with renew
ed insistence.
Five-The American government re-
alizes the unusual and abnormal CON
ditions which the present conflict has
created in the conduct of maritime
war and Is willing to act as inter
mediary as between the belligerents
| to arrange modus vivendi or any
other temporary arrangements which
do not involve surrender by the
United States OF its rights.
Six-The proposals made by Ger
many to give immunity to American
ships not carrying contraband and
transfer belligerent ships under the
American flag, are rejected with the
emphatic assertion that to accept such
suggestion would be to admit Ger
many's right to set aside the Ameri-
can contention based Oh fundamental
principles of international law-that
neutrals may travel anywhere on the
high seas on ships of any nationality,
even if carrying contraband
The note is about 200 words long.
! While nowhere in it is there any di-
rect intimation of the course which
the United States will pursue in the
event of another disaster similar to
the Lusitania tragedy, there are em
phatic statements throughout the com
munication pointing out that he discus
sion of he principles involved has been
virtually concluded and that future
conduct of German submarine com
manders will determine the RESPONSE
bility for the friendly relations be
tween the two countries
The statement that future trans
gressions will be regarded as ''nn
friendly" is taken in diplomatic usage
to presage a break of friendly rela
tions unless reparation and disavowa
is forthcoming.
President Wilson, it is understood
has considered fully and at length the
the implications of the note and Is
prepared to deal with any new situa
tiOn that may arise. He is hopeful
, and confident. however. it is said, that
!, Germany, having already modified te
, a great extent the practice of her sub
marine commanders, will now take
such precautions as seem necessary
to prevent any action that would en-
danger friendly relations with the Uni
ted States.
From o'clock this morning until
, late tonight, the president. with the
, exception of few hours spent IN
recreation, was at work on copy ol
| the note Secretary Lansing, who hac
} drafted it. worked on the original and
: took it to the president tonight with
!, several changes. The president agreed
) with Mr.. Lansing's suggestions anC
, tomorrow the document will be final,
3 revised in phraseology before starting