The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-14
WIl SON CALLS HALT ON UNDERSEA
 ATTACKS ON OUR MERCHANT SHIPS
TEXT OF NOTE TO GERMANY

few weeks have shown, without an inevita ble violation of many sacred principles of justice and humanity.
 American citizens act within their indisputabIe rights in talk ing their ships and in travelling wherever their legitimate busi- ness calls them upon the high seas, and exercise those rights in what should be the we'll Justified confidence that their lives will not be endangered by acts done in clear violation of universally acknowledged international obli- cations and certainly in the con f1dence that their own Govern nent will sustain tI em in the ex- ercise of their rights.
 There was recently published in the newspapers of the United States, I regret to. inform the Imp peria1 German Government, a formal warning purporting to come from the Imperial German Embassy at Washington address, ed to the people of the United States and stating in effect that any citizen of the United States z who exercised his right of free travel upon the seas would do so cLL LIS pOI11 II AAAS S11Ou10 take him within the zone of waters within which the Imper- iaI German navy was using sub marines against the commerce of Great Britain and France, not withstanding the respectful but very earnest protest of. his Gov ernment, the Government of the United States
 I do not refer to this for the purpose of calling the attention of the Imperial German govern ment at this time to the surprfs- ing irregularity of a communica- ton from the Imperial German Embassy at Washington ad- dressed to the people of the United States through the news papers. but only for the purpose of pointing out that no warning act will be committed can pos- sibly be accepted as an excuse or pa11iation for that act or as an abatement of the responsi- biIity for its commission.
 Long acquainted as this gov ernment has been with the char acter of the Imperial German. government and with the high principles of equity by which they have in the past been actuated and guided. the gov ernment of the United States cannot believe that the com Enanders of the vessels which committed these acts of Iawless- ness did so except under a mis- apprehension of the orders issued by the Imperial German naval authorities.
 It takes it for granted that, at least within the practical possi-s bflities of every such case, the commanders even of submarines were expected to do not hing that would involve the lives of non con1batants or the safety of neu- tral ships, even at the cost of failing in their object of capture or destruction. It confidently expects, therefore. that the Im- peria1 German government will ? dfeavow the acts of which the government of thes United States complains, that they will make reparation, so far as reparatton is possible, for injuries whichNa Nare without measure. and that they will take immediate steps to pre- vent the recurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles of warfare for which the Imperial German government have in the past so wisely and firmly contended.
 The government and people of the United States look to the I'm peria1 German government for just, prompt and enlightened ac- ton in this vital matter with the greater confidencS because the United States and Germany are bound together not only by spe- oia1 ties of friendship but also by the explicit stipuiations of the treaty of 1928 between the United States and the Kingdom of Prus- sia.
 Expressions of regret and of fers of reparation in case of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake, while they may sat- lisfy international obligations, if no loss Of 1ife< results, cannot Justify or excuse a practice the natural and necessary effect of which is to subject neutral na- tions and neutral persons to new and immediate risks.
 The Imperial German govern ment will not expect the govern ment of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights od the United States and it's citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.
 BRYAN.
 Wa s|7fngtaa. May 13 1915