The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-24
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE ON TIE
 FOREGOING or SUSSEs

The text of the American note to Ger many. signed by Secretary Lansing and addressed to Ambassador Gerard os as
 You are instructed to deliver to the secretary Of foreign affairs communi- cation reading os follows:
 I did not fail to transmit immediate y. by telegraph, to my government your cXcellency's note of the 10th in- stont regarding to the disastrous oN- ploslon on March 24 last. which wreck cd the French steamship Sussex in the English Channel ! have now the hon- or Co deliver. under instructions rom my government, tho following reply to your excollency:
 Information now In the possession of the government of the United states fully establishes tho facts in the case my government has drawn from that information it regards aa confirmed by the circumatanccs set forth in your cN- ccllency's note of tho 10th instant
 The Case Of the Sussex
 On the 24th of March, l9lG. ot about 2:50 o'clock i'm Che ufternon. the un- armed steamer Sussex. with 325 or more passengers on board, among whom were a number of American citizens. was torpedocd while crossing from Folkea- stanc Co Dleppc The Sussex had never been armed; was a vessel known Go Dc habitually used only for the convey ance of passengers across the English Channel and was not following thc route taken by troop ships or supply ships About eighty Of her passen- gers. nOncomb0tants of an ages and sexes. including citizens of the United states. were killed or Injured.
 X careful detailed and 6crupulously impartial invosugation by naval and military officers of the United States has conclusively established tho fact that the Sussex wos torpedoed without that the torpedo by which she was struck was of German manufacture. Tn the view of the government of the United States thcsc facts from the first made the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a German submarine un- nvoidablc lt now considers that con- ciusion substnntoted by the statcments of your excellency'a note. A full state ment of the facts upon which the, gov ernmcnt of thc United States has based It's conclusion is inclosed.
 Does Not Appreciate Gravity
 The government of the United States. after having given careful consideration Co the note of the imperial government of the 10th of April regrets Co state that the impression made upon it by the statements and proposals contained In that note is that the imperial gov crnmcnt has failed Go appreciate the gravity Of Che situation which has re- suited not alone from the attack on Che Sussex. out from the whole method end character of submarine warfare as dls- closed by the unresrained practice Of the commonders of German undersea craft during the past twelve months and more in the indiscriminotc destruc- ton of merchant vessels of nll sorts. nationollties and destinations
 lf the sinking of the Sussex had been m Isolated casc the government of the United States might find it possible tO hope that the officer who Wa1 re- sponslble for that act had wilfully violated his orders or had been crim- inally negligent in taking none Of the the ends Of justice might loo satisfied by imposing upon him an adequate pun lshmont. coupled with formal dis- avowal of the act and payment Of a suitable indemnity by the Imperial gov ernment But. though tho ottock on tho Sussex was manlfestly indcfen8i- blc and caused loss Of lifc 30 raSl- cal as Co make it stand forth as one of the most terrible examples Of the inhumanlty of submarine warfare os the commanders of German vessels are conducting it. it unhappiy does not stand alone.
 On the contrary, the government or the United States ls forced by recent events Co conclude that it is only one instance. even though one Of the most extreme and most distressing instances: of the deliberate method ot spirit or indiscriminatc destruction Of merchant vesseis of all sorts. nauonalitles and destinations which have become moro and more unmistokc0bie as the activity of German undergea vessels Of war has in recent months been qulckened and extended no, recall that when. in February, 1915. it announced lts intention of treating the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland as embraced within tho seat of war and of destroying 0ll merchant ships owned by lts enemies that might be found within that zone of danger, and warned Oll vessels, neutral os well as belligcrent. to keep out of the wa ters thus prescribed. or Co enter them at their peril. the government Of the United States earnestly protested. it took the position that such policy could not be pursued without constant gross and palpoble violation of the accepted law of nations, particularly fl submarine craft were co pc employed as It's instruments. inasmuch as the rules prescribed by that law. rules founded on tho principles of humanity and established for the protection or lives of noncombatants at sea, could not in the nature of the case be ob- served by such vessels.
 Basis of American Protest
 It based It's protest on the ground that persons of neutral nationality and vessels Of neutral ownership would DC exposed to extreme and intolerable risks.
  the high seas could lawfully be ossert- cd by the imperial government in tho circumstance then existing. The law of nations in these matters upon which the government of tho United States based that protest is not Of recent or lrin or founded upon merely arbitrary principles set up by convention. It is based. on the contrary. upon manifest principlon of humanity and has long been established with tho approval and by tho express assent of all civilized nations.
 Tho imperial govornment, notwith- standins porsisted in carrying out tho policy announced. expressing tho hope thot the dangers Involved. at any rate to neutral vessels, would bo reduced to a minimum by the instructions which it had Issued Go the commanders of It's submarines. and assuring the gov- ornment of the United States that lt would take every possible precQution both to respect tho right Of neutrala and Co safeguard tho lives or noncam- batonts.
 Carried on Ruthless Destruction
 In pursuance of this policy of sub-