Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-07-27

SdlCNN VI lives at STD VIII DC
regarded as deliberately unfriendly."
Following is the official text of the
latest American note to Germany re-
garding submarine warfare, which was
delivered to the Foreign Office at Ber-
lin yesterday by Ambassador Gerard:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO
AMBASSADOR GERARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July 81, 1915.
you are instructed to deliver text
ually the following note to the Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs:
The note of the Imperial German
Government, dated July 8, 1915, has
received the careful consideration of
the Government of the United States,
and it regrets to be obliged to say that
1t has found it very unsatisfactory. be-
cause it fails to meet the real differ
ences between the two Governments
anu AhNANdNCS hO Nds III W Nun Tic az
cepted principles of law and humanity
may be applied in the grave matter in
controversy, but proposes, on the con-
trary, arrangements for partial sus-
pension of these principles which vir
tually set them aside.
The Government of the United
states notes with satisfaction that the
Imperial German Government rec
ognizes without reservation the
validity OF the principles insisted on
in the several communications which
this Government has addressed to the
Imperial German Government with re-
gard to its announcement of a war
zone and the use of submarines
against merchantmen on the high seas
the principle that the high seas are
free; that the character and cargo OF
a merchantmen must first be ascer-
tanned before she can lawfully be
seized or destroyed, and that the lives
of non-combatants may in no case be
put in jeopardy unless the vessel re-
sists or seeks to escape after being
summoned 20 submit to examination
for belliserent act of retaliation is
per sc an act beyond the law, and
the defense OF an act as retaliatory is
an admission MAT it is Illegal
"Keenly Disappointed" BY German
Stand.
The Government of the United
ed to find that the Imperial German
Government regards itself as in large
degree exempt from the obligation to
observe these principles, even where
neutral vessels are concerned, by what
II believes the kJlicy and practice of
the Government of Great Britain to
be in the present war with regard to
neutral commerce. The Imperial Ger
man Government will readily under
stand that the Government of the
United States cannot discuss the policy
of the Government of Great Britain
with regard to neutral trade except
with that Government itself, and that
it must regard he conduct. of other
belligerent Governments as irrelevant
to any discussion with the Imperial
German Government of what this Gov
eminent regardC as grave and I'M
Unsuitable violations of the rights of
American citizens by German naval
commanders. Illegal and inhuman
acts, however jGstiiable they may be
thought to be against an enemy who
is believed to have acted in contra
vention OF Law and humanity, are
manifestly indefensible when they de-
prive neutrals of their acknowledged
rights, particularly when they violate
the right TO life itself. If belligerent
cannot retaliate against an enemy
without injuring the lives Of neutrals
as well as their property, humanity as
well as justice and due regard for
the dignity of neutral powers should
dictate that the practice be discon-
tinued If persisted in, it would in
such circumstances constitute an I'M
pardonable offense against the SOW
rcignty of the neutral nation affected.
principles Are ImmutabIe."
The Government of the United
State. is not unmindful of the eXtraor-