The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-22
No Limitation of American
Rights Will BE Ac-
cepted.
NO CHANGE LIKELY
BEFORE NOTE GOES
Country Expected to Real
ize What It Faces in Up
holding Stand.

WAsHiNGToN. July 2l.-Tne note
which President Wilson Is about to send
10 Berlin on the submarine issue will
contain a warning that the United States
will regard any further attack by Ger
many upon American life on the high
seas as ian unfriendly act" THE SUNS
despatch indicating that the President
and the Cabinet decided on this course
yesterday was fully confirmed here to-
day.
The agreement to this effect reached at
the Cabinet meeting was given concrete
expression by the President and Secre-
tary Lansing to-day, both men devotne
themselves to the writing OF final
draft. a further conference was held
Ivy them at the White House tonight
and no doubt now exists that the
note was practically completed and put
in form ready for signature and despatch
to Berlin
With this feature OF the note definitely
established II at once took it's place as
the most important provision In the
forthcoming communication to Germany,
1t not only gives a positive tone Of
fnality to the note but places Germany
under notice that responsibility will res.
with her for any consequences that may
come from a repetition of such an Incl
dent as the Lusltania attack.
In diplomatic quarters the significance
OF the term "unfriendly act" was more
fully appreciated than elsewhere. II
cd hot IN, ho q
diplomacy the use OF this expression
presages usually a break between Gov
ernments IL the warning thus conveyed
is not needed.
or Equal Significance Here,
It was generally agreed that to the
United States the term has quite as
much significance as to Germany. That
this Government in the event OF further
unlawful submarine attacks will be more
than ever bound TO take some action
after having delivered this warning to
Germany was the universal view here
1t can he said that this fact is fully ap-
preciated by the Administration and IL
most earnestly hopes that Germany will
show by the future conduct OF her SUBJ
marine warfare that She too, realizes
the point to which the United States has
been brought by her hitherto unsatisfac-
tory responses.
The way to this warning is paved by
the assertion In the note OF the assump-
ton by this Government that Germany
has expressed her acceptance OF the
principles OF humanity invoked by Pres
ident Wilson in support OF the United
States position. Inasmuch as the United
States feels justified in placing this con-
struction upon statements contained in
the German note OF July s, II Is thought
proper for 1t to ask OF Germany adher-
ence TO those principles in practice, with
the warning that "A departure from them
as regards the lives OF American citizens
must he regarded by this Government
as IAN unfriendly act"
How Germany Admits II.
The portion Of the German note OF
July 3, on which this assumption is
based. is that statement in the second
paragraph to the effect that Germany
"Is quite willing to permit its statements
and decisions in the case under consid-
grafton to be governed by the principles
o' humanity just as II has done always"
The President and his advisers felt
that II would be made easier for Ger
many to refrain from attacks involving
innocent American lives with this in
her and that II would also be more
difficult for her to repudiate either BY
word or act the principles Of humanity
IN question.
Besides these two points the remain
Ing features of the new note were re-
parded to-day as of only secondary i'm
portance, merely serving to maintain in
tact the position previously assumed by
President Wilson. OF these secondary
features, the most important IL the de-
termination to make Germany's future
conduct OF submarine operations the
test Of the relations that are to exist
between the two Governments This
decision will at least have the effect OF
rostponing the critical aspects OF the
situation until Germany shall commit
another offence against American life.
Other points in the note are;
\ renewed assertion OF the right
c Americans to travel the high seas
on unarmed merchant ships OF ANY
Nationality free from the menace OF
obstruction by German submarines.
\ reteration OF the demands al
ready made by the President in this
regard
rejection of the German pro-
posgls as to the conditions under
witch Americans will De permitted
h' ''ermany to cross the seas IN
safety.
The United States holds In this con-
ncnt!On that the United states re-
gard. these proposals as involving
Imitation OF American rights which
this Government cannot even consider,
not 10 mention the fact that their
acceptance would necessitate ar.