The Prescott daily news., 1915-07-24
Uncle Sam Con- tends for Free
 dom of Seas

Washington, July 23.-The Ameri- can note on submarine warfare, pre- sented at Berlin today by Ambassa- dor Gerard, was made public tonight. It reveals the Imperial government has been informed it is the intention Iof the United States to regard as deliberately unfriendly" any repeti- tion by the commanders of German naval vessels of acts in contravention of American rights.
 Strongest Note Yet.
 The United States announces it will continue to contend for the freedom of the seas from whatever quarter violated, without compromise and at any cost" In official and diplomatic quarters the communication was re- |ceived as the strongest and most em- phatic pronouncement that has come from Washington government since the beginning of it's correspondence with the belligerents of Europe.
 President Wilson returned to Cor nish tonight to await developments.
 Following is the official text of the latest American note to Germany re- garding submarine warfare, delivered to the foreign office at Berlin today:
 "The Secretary of State to Am bassador Gerard:
 Department of State, Washington July 21.
 "You are instructed to deliver text gully the following note to the minis ter for foreign affairs:
 "The note of the Imperial govern ment dated the Sth of July, 1915, has received the careful consideration 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 diff fferences between the two governments and indicates no way in which the af- fected principles of law and humanity may be applied in the grave matter in the controversy, but proposes, on the contrary, arrangements for a partial suspension of these principles which virtually set them aside.
 An Act Beyond the Law.
 "The government of the United States notes with satisfaction that the Imperial government recognizes, without reservation, the validity of the principles insisted on in the sev- eral communications which this gov ernment has addressed to the Imperial government with regard to its an Inouncement of the war zone and the use of the submarine against mer- chantmen on the high seas-the principle that the high seas are free that the character and cargo of the merchantmen must first be ascertained before she can lawfully be seized or destroyed, and that the lives of non- combatants may in no case be put in ieojardy unless the vessel rseists ol seeks to escape after being summoned to submit to examination, for a belli- gerent act of retaliation is per SC ar act beyond the law and the defense of an act as retaliatory is an admission that it is illegal.
 Keen Disappointment.
 "The government of the United States is, however, keenly disappoint- ed to find that the Imperial govern ment regards itself as in large degree exempt from the obligations to ob- serve these principles, even where neu- tral vessls are concerned, by what is believed the policy and practice of the government of Great Britain to be in the present war with regard to neutral commerce.
 Conduct Irrelevant.
 "The Imperial German government will readily understand that the gov ernment of the United States can dis cuss the policy of Great Britain with regard to neutral trade except with that government itself and that it must regard the conduct of other bel ligerent governments as irrelevant to any discussion with the Imperial gov ernment of what this government re- gards as grave and unjustifiable vio- lations of the rights of American cit izens by German naval commanders.
 Manifestly Indefensible.
 Illegal, inhumane acts, however