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Show U. S. GOVERNMENT TAKES FIR! STAND NOTE DELIVERED AT BERLIN IN REPLY TO GERMAN NOTE OF JULY 8. United States Will Continue to Contend for Freedom of the Seas, and Demands Reparation for Lives Sacrificed. "Washington.- The text of the reply of the United States to the German note on the Lusitania and the general subject of Germany's submarine war-to war-to . was made public on July 23 at the state department. Following is the official text of the latest American note to Germany. The secretary of state to Ambassador Ambassa-dor Gerard. Department of State, Washington, July 21, 1915. You are Instructed to deliver textually the following fol-lowing note to the minister of foreign affairs. The note of the imperial German government, dated the 8th of July, 1915, has received the careful consideration con-sideration of the government of the United States, and It regrets to be obliged to say that it has found it very unsatisfactory, because It falls to meet the real differences between the two governments and indicates no way in which the accepted principles of law and humanity may be applied in the grave matter in controversy, but proposes, on the contrary, arrangements ar-rangements for a partial suspension of those principles which virtually set them aside. One Point Satisfactory. The government of the United States notes with satisfaction that the imperial German government recognizes recog-nizes without reservation the validity of the principles Insisted upon in the several communications which this government baa addressed to the Imperial Im-perial German government with regard 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 merchantman must first be ascertained before she can lawfully law-fully be seized or destroyed, and that the lives of non-combatants may in no case be put in jeopardy unless the vessel resists or seeks to escape after being summoned to submit to examination; exam-ination; for a belligerent act of retaliation retali-ation is per se an act beyond the law, and the defense of an act as retaliatory retalia-tory is an admission that it Is Illegal. Keen Disappointment. The government of the United States is, however, keenly disappointed disappoint-ed to find that the Imperial German government regards itself as In large observe these principles, even where neutral vessels are coucernd. by what it believes the policy and practice of the government of Great Britain to be In the present war with regard to neutral neu-tral commerce. The Imperial German government will readily understand 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 the conduct of other belligerent bel-ligerent governments as Irrelevant to any discussion with the Imperial German Ger-man government of what this government govern-ment regards as grave and unjustifiable unjustifi-able violations of the rights of American Ameri-can citizens by German naval commanders. com-manders. Illegal and Inhuman acts, however Justifiable they may be thought to be against an enemy who is believed to have acted In contravention contra-vention of law and humanity, are manifestly indefensible when they deprive de-prive neutrals of their acknowledged rights, particularly when they violate the right to life lUelf. If a belligerent belliger-ent cannot retaliate against an enemy without Injuring the lives of neutrals, as well as their property, humanity as well as Justice and a due regard for the dlgnlly of neutral powers should dictate that the practice be discontinued. discon-tinued. If persisted In It would. In such clri'innstances, constitute an unpardonable un-pardonable offense against tho sovereignty sover-eignty of the neutral nation nfTected. Tho government of the United States is not unmindful of the extraordinary conditions created by this war or of tho radical alterations of clrcum slunros and method of attack produced by the use of Instrumentalities of naval warfaro which the nations of tho world cannot have had In view when the existing rules of International Interna-tional law were formulated, and It Is ready to make every reasonable allowance al-lowance for Ihesc novel and unexpected unexpect-ed aspects of war at sea; but It can not consent to abate any essential or lundnnienUil right of Its people lx'-c.nusc lx'-c.nusc of a mere alteration of circumstance. circum-stance. The rights of neutrals In time of var are bused upon principle, not upill expediency, and tho principles ar Immutable. Duty of Belligerents. It in the duty and obligation of belligerents bel-ligerents to find a way to adapt the new circumstances to them. Tho events of tho past two months have clearly Indlcnled that It Is pus clblo and practicable to conduct such submarine operations as bavo charnc- terlzed the activity of the imperial German navy within the so-called war zone in substantial accord with the accepted practices of regulated warfare. war-fare. The whole world has looked with interest a.nd increasing satisfaction satisfac-tion at the demonstration of that possibility pos-sibility by German naval commanders. command-ers. It is manifestly possible, therefore, there-fore, to lift the whole practice of submarine sub-marine attack above the criticism which it has aroused and remove the chief causes of offense. In view of the admission of illegality made by the imperial government when it pleaded the right of retaliation retalia-tion In defense of its acts, and in view of the manifest possibility of conforming conform-ing to the established rules of naval warfare, the government of the United Unit-ed States cannot believe that the Imperial Im-perial government will longer refrain from disavowing the wanton act of Its naval commander in sinking the Lusitania Lusi-tania or from offering reparation for the American lives lost, so far as reparation repa-ration can be made for a needless destruction de-struction of human life by an illegal act. Suggestion Not Accepted. The government of the United States, while not indifferent to the friendly spirit in which it Is made, cannot accept the suggestion of the imperial government that certain ves- sels be designated and agreed upon which shall be free on the seas now illegally proscribed. The very agreement agree-ment would, by Implication, subject other vessels to illegal attack, and would be a curtailment and- therefore an abandonment of the principles for which this government contends, and which in times of calmer counsels every nation would concede as of course. The government of the United States and the imperial Germon government, gov-ernment, contending for the same great object, have long stood together in urging the very principles upon which the government of the United States now so solemnly insists. They are both contending for the freedom of the seas. The government of the United States will continue to contend for that freedom, from whatever quarter quar-ter violated, without compromise and at any cost. It invites the practical cooperation of the imperial German government at this time when co-operation may accomplish most, and this great common object be most strikingly strik-ingly and effectively achieved. Can Be Accomplished. The Imperial German government expresses the hope that this object may be In some measure accomplished accomplish-ed even before the present war ends. It can be. The government of the United States not only feels obliged to Insist upon it, by whomsoever violated vio-lated or ignored, and in the protection protec-tion of its own citizens, but is also deeply Interested in seeing it made practicable between the belligerents themselves, and holds itself ready at any time to act as the common friend who may be privileged to suggest a way. In the meantime the very value which this government sets upon the long and unbroken friendship between the neonle and Government of the United States and the people and government gov-ernment of the German nation Impels It to press very solemnly upon the Imperial German government the necessity for a scrupulous observance of neutral rights In this critical matter. mat-ter. Friendship Itself prompts It to say to the Imperial German government govern-ment that repetition by commanders of the German naval vessels of acts in contravention of those rights must be regarded by the government of the United States, when they affect American Amer-ican citizens, as deliberately un-frlendlv. un-frlendlv. (Signed) LANSING. |