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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1916)
The Commoner MAY, 1916 11 o alive to the possibility that the ship mentioned in the note of April 10 as having been torpe 'doed by a German submarine is actually identi cal with the Sussex. "The German government begs to reserve fur ther communication on the matter until certain points are ascertained which are of decisive im portance for establishing the facts of the case. "Should it turn out that the commander was wrong in assuming the vessel to be a man-of-war, the German government will not fail to draw the consequence resulting therefrom. "In connection with the case of the Sussex the government of the United States made a aeries of statements, the gist of which is the as sertion that the incident is to be considered but one instance of a deliberate method of indis criminate destruction of .vessels of all sorts,, na tionalities and destinations by German sub marine commanders. "The German government must emphatically repudiate the assertion. The German govern ment, however, thinks it of little avail to enter into details at the present stage of affairs, more particularly as the government of the United States omitted to substantiate the assertion by reference to concrete facts. "The German government will only state that it has imposed far-reaching restraints upon tho use of the submarine weapon, solely in consid eration of neutrals' interests, in spite of the fact "that these restrictions are necessarily of advantage to Germany's enemies. No such con sideration has ever been shown neutrals by Great' Britain and her allies. INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBMARINE COM MANDERS "The German submarine forces have had, in fact, orders to conduct the submarine warfare in accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international law, the sole exception being the cpnduct of warfare against enemy trade carried on enemy freight ships en countered in the war zone surrounding Great Britain. With regard to these no assurances have ever been given to the government of the United States. "No such assurances are contained in tho declaration of February 8, 1916. "The German government can not admit any doubt that these orders were given or are exe cuted in good faith. Errors actually occurred. They can in no kind of warfare be avoided alto gether. "Allowances must be made in the conduct of naval war.fare agaiifst an enemy resorting to all kinds of ruses, whether permissible or illicit. "But apart from the possibility of errors, naval warfare, just like warfare on land, im plies unavoidable dangers for neutral persons and goods entering the fighting zone. "Even in cases where the naval action is con fined to ordinary forms of cruiser warfare, neu tral persons and goods repeatedly come to grief. "The German government has repeatedly and explicitly pointed out the dangers from mines that have led to the loss of numerous ships. "The German government has made several proposals to the government of the United States in order to reduce to a minimum for American travelers and goods inherent dangers of naval , warfare. Unfortunately tho government of the United States decided not to accept the pro posals. Had it accepted, the government of the United States would have been instrumental in preventing the greater part of the accidents that American citizens have met with in tho mean time. "The German government still stands by its offer to come to an agreement along these lines. "As the German government repeatedly de clared it can not dispose with the use of the 'submarine weapon in the conduct of warfare against enemy trade. DECIDES TO MAKE FURTHER CONCESSION "The German government, however, has now decided to make a further concession, adapting methods of submarine war to the interests of neutrals. "In reaching its decision the German govern ment is actuated by considerations which are above the level of the disputed question. "The German government attaches no less importance to the sacred principles of humanity than the government of the United States. It again fully takes into account that both gov ernments for many years co-operated in develop ing international law in conformity with these principles, the ultimate object of which has al ways been to confine warfare on sea and land to armed forces of belligerents and safeguard as far as possible non-combatants against tho horrors of war. "But although these circumstances are of great weight they alono would not, under pres ent circumstances, havo determined tho attitude of tho German government, for in answer to the appeal by the government of tho United States on behalf of tho sacred principles of humanity and international law tho German government must repeat once more, with all emphasis, that it was not the German but tho British govern ment which Ignored all accepted rules of Inter national law and extended this terrible war to ..the lives and property of non-combatants, hav ing no regard whatever for tho interests and rights of neutrals and non-combatants, that through this method of warfare have been se verely injured. ';in self-defence against tho illegal conduct of British warfare, while fighting a bitter struggle for national existence, Germany had to resort to the hard but effective weapon of submarine war fare. "As matters stand, tho German government can not but reiterate regret that the sentiments of humanity which the government of tho United States extends with such fervor to the unhappy victims of submarine warfare are not extended with the same warmth of feeling to many mil lions of women and children who, according to tho avowed intention of the British government, shall be starved, and who, by sufferings, shall force the victorious armies of tho central pow ers into ignominious capitulation. "The German government, in agreement with the German people, falls to understand this discrimination, all the more as it has repeatedly and explicitly declared itself ready to use the submarine weapon in strict conformity with tho rules of international law as recognized before the outbreak of the war if Great Britain likewise was ready to adapt the conduct of warfare in these rules. "Several attempts made by the government of the United States to prevail upon tho British government to act accordingly failed because of flat refusal on the part of tho British govern ment. COMPLAINS OF BRITISH POLICY "Moreover, Great Britain again and again has violated international law, surpassing all bounds in outraging neutral rights. The latest measure adopted by Great Britain, declaring German bunker coal contraband and establishing condi tions under which English bunker coal alone is supplied to neutrals, is nothing but an unheard of attempt by way of exaction to force neutral tonnage into the service of British trade war. "The German people know that the govern ment of the United States has the power to con fine tho war to armed forces of the belligerent countries, in the interest of humanity and main tenance of international Jaw. The government of the United States would have been certain of attaining this end had it been determined to insist, against Great Britain, on the Incontro vertible rights of freedom of tho seas. "But, as matters stand, the German people are under the impression that the government of the United States, while demanding that Germany, struggling for existence, shall restrain the use of an effective weapon and while mak ing compliance with these demands a condition for maintenance of relations with Germany, confines itself to protests against illegal meth ods adopted by Germany's enemies. Moreover, the German people know to what considerate extent its enemies are supplied with all kinds of war material from the United States. "It will, therefore, be understood that tho appeal made by the government pf the United States to sentiments of humanity and principles of international law can not, under the circum stances meet the same hearty response from the German people which such an appeal otherwise always Is certain to find here. "If the German government, nevertheless, Is resolved to go to the utmost limit of conces sions, it has been guided not alone W- the friendship connecting the two great nations for over one hundred years, but also by the thought of the great doom which threatens the entire civilized world should the cruel and sanguinary war be extended and prolonged. "The German government, conscious of Ger many's great strength, twice within the last few months announced before the world its readiness to make peace on a basis safeguarding Germany's vital interests, thus indicating that it Is not Germany's fault if pcaco is still withheld from the nations of Europe "Tho German government feols all the more justified in declaring that responsibility could not bo borne before the forum of mankind and in history if, after twenty-one months of the war's duration, the submarine question under discussion between the German government and tho government of the United States were to take a turn seriously threatening maintenance of peace between tho two nations. CONFINING OPERATIONS TO FIGHTING FORCES "As. far as lfes with the German government, it wishes to prevent things from taking such a course. The German government, moreover, is prepared to do its utmost to confino operations of tho war for the rest of Its duration to the fighting forces of tho belligerents, thereby also Insuring freedom of the seas, a principle upon which the German government believes, now as before, that it Is in agreement with the govern ment of the United States. "The German government, guided by this idea, notifies tho government of tho United States that German naval forces havo received the following order: 'In accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international law, such vessels, both within and without the area declared a naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human lives, unless the ship attempt to escape or offer resistance "But neutrals can not expect that Germany, forced to fight for existence, shall for tho sake of neutral interests restrict tho use of an effec tive weapon if the enemy is permitted to con tinue to apply at will methods of warfare violat ing rules of international law. Such a demand would be incompatible with tho character of neutrality, and the German government is con vinced the government of tho United States does not think of making such a demand, knowing that the government of tho United States re peatedly declares that it Is determined to restore the principle of freedom of tho seas, from what ever quarter it Is violated. "Accordingly, the German government is con fident that in consequence of the new or dors issued to the naval forces, the government of the United States will also now consider all Impedi ments removed which may havebeen in the way of mutual co-operation toward restoration of the freedom of the seas during the war, as suggest ed in the note of July 23, 1915, and It does not doubt that the government of the United States will now demand and insist that tho British government shall forthwith observe tho rules of international law universally recognized be fore the war, as are laid down In tho note presented by tho government of tho United States to tho British government December 28, 1914, and November 4, 1915. "Should steps taken by the government of the United States not attain the object it desires, to have laws of humanity followed by all bel ligerent nations, the German government would then be facing a new situation in which it must reserve to itself complete liberty of decision. "The undersigned avails himself of this op portunity to renew to the American ambassador assurances of highest consideration. "JAGOW." - ANSWER TO GERMAN NOTE 'A Washington dispatch, dated May 8, says: Following is the text of the note cabled today by. Secretary Lansing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin with instructions to deliver it to the Gar man minister of foreign affairs: "The note of the Imperial German govern ment under date of May 4, 1916, has receive careful consideration by the government of the United States. It is especially noted as indicat ing the purpose of the Imperial government as to the future, that it 'is prepared to do its ut most to confine the operation of the war for the rest of its duration to the fighting forces of the belligerents,' and that it is determined to Im pose upon all its commanders at sea the limit' jtion of the recognized rules of international law upon which the government of the United States has Insisted. "Throughout the months which have elapsefl since the Imperial government announced om February 4, 1915, its submarine policy, now happily abandoned, the irnvoament of the n Vh i 4'fl A ft (I 4