The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-07-27
OF THE SEAS
MUST Be PRESERVED
And Will be at Any Cost by the
American Government.
STRONGEST MESSAGE YET.
Germany is Given Clear and Renew.
ed Understanding as to What
United States Will Demand.

United States Will Demand.
washington, July 23.-The text of
the American note on the submarine
warfare, presented at Berlin today
by Ambassador Gerard, was made
public here tonight. 1t reveals that
the Imperial government had been
informed 1t is the intention of the
United States to regard as "deliber-
ately unfriendly" any repetition by
the commanders of German naval
vessels of acts in contravention of
American rights.
The United States announces that
1t 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 viewed as
the strongest and most emphatic
pronouncement that has come from
the Washington government since
the beginning Of its correspondence
with the belligerents of Europe
President Wilson returned to Cor
nish tonight to await DEVELOPMENTS.
On the assumption that Germany
has already admitted the illegality of
her practices by attempting to justi-
fy them as retaliatory moves against
Great Britain the United States ex-
presses the belief that Germany will
no longer refrain from disavowing
the wanton act of it's naval comman-
der In sinking the Lusitania or from
onering reparation for the American
lives lost, 80 far as reparation can
be made for a needless destruction
of human life by an illegal act"
Referring to the German govern
ment's expression OF hope in it's last
note that the freedom of the seas
may be established in some measure
before the end of the present war,
the United States declares that this
object can be accomplished and in
vites the practical cooperation OF
the Imperial government. The
American government adds. more
over, that it holds itself ready at
any time to act as the common
friend who may be privileged to sug-
guest way" to assist in establish
Ing the freedom of the seas.
At the outset, the German note of
July 8 is declared "very1unsatisfac-
tory because 1t fails to meet the real
differences between the two govern
ments and indicates no way in which
the accepted principles of law and
humanity may be applied in the
grave matter in controversy, but pro-
poses, on the contrary. arrangements
for a partial suspension of those
principles, which virtually set them
aside"
Contending that 1.-The defense Of
an act as retaliatory is an admission
that 1t is illegal" the American gov
ernment then argues that II cannot
discuss actions of Great Britain with
Germany and regards as irrelevant"
In the present negotiations the con-
duct of other belligerents.
illegal and inhuman acts" says
the note, however justifiable they
may be thought against an enemy
who is believed to have acted In
contravention OF law and humanity,
are manifestIy indefensible when
they deprive neutrals of their ac-
knowledged rights, particularly when
they violate the right to life itself"
Asserting that a belligerent should
give up it's measures Of retaliation IL
unable to conduct them without in
juring the lives of neutrals," the
note declares that persistence in
such measures under the circum-
stances would constitute an unpar-
donable offense against the severe
tgnty Of the neutral nation affected.
The United States, 1t is further as
serted, Is mot unmindful of the ex-
traordinary conditions" created by
the present war and is ready to
make every reasonable allowance for
these novel and unexpected aspects
of war at sea" but cannot consent to
"abate any essential or fundamental
right of it's people because of
mere alteration Of circumstances"
The note says that events of the
two months clearly indicate that 1t
Continued on Page Eighty,