The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-07-16

ton Of peaceable trade.
"In the international proceedings
which since have been conducted for
the regulation OF the laws Of maritime
war Germany and America have joint.
" advocated progressive principles,
especially the adjustment Of the right
Of capture at sea. and the protection
Of the interests Of neutrals.
Even at the beginning Of the pres.
ent war the German government Inn
mediately declared its willingness, in
to proposals Of the American
to ratify the declaration
OF London and thereby subject itself
In the use OF is naval forces to all
the restrictions provided therein In ia
for Of neutrals. Germany likewise has
been always tenacious Of the principle
that war should be conducted against
the armed and organized forces Of an
enemy country, but that the enemy
civilian population must be spared as
far as possible from the measures Of
war. The imperial government cher
ishes the definite hope that some way
viii be found when peace is concluded,
or perhaps earlier, to regulate the law
Of maritime war in a manner guaran-
teeing the freedom Of the seas, and
win welcome 1t with gratitude and sat
isfaction II It can work hand and hand
with the American government on that
occasion,
IF in the present war the principles
which should be the ideal Of the future
have been traversed more and more,
the longer its duration, the German
government has no guilt therein. It
is known to the American government
how Germany's adversaries, by com
pletely paralyzing peaceable traffic be-
tween Germany and neutral countries,
have aimed from the very beginning
and with increasing lack Of considera-
ton at the destruction, not so much
Of the armed forces as the life Of
the German nation, repudiating In do
ing so all the rules of international
law and disregarding all rights Of neu-
trails.
"On November 8. 1914, England de-
clared the North Sea a war area, and
by planting poorly anchored mines and
by the stoppage and capture Of yes.
sells made passage extremely danger.
GUS and difficult for neutral shipping
thereby actually blockading neutral
coasts and ports contrary to all inter
national law. Long before the begin
ming Of submarine war England prac
tically completely intercepted legiti
mate neutral navigation to Germany
also. Thus Germany was driven to a
submarine war on trade.
"On November IA, 1914, the English
premier declared in the House Of Com
mons that it was one Of England's
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports. Since March
1 England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formality
all merchandise proceeding to Ger
many, as we'll as merchandise coming
from Germany, even when neutra
property. Just as It was also with thu
Beers, the German people is now t.
be given the choice Of perishing from
starvation with its women and chill
dren, or Of relinquishing its independ
enee.
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed without mercy oul
utter destruction, we were conducting
a war in self-defense for our nationa
existence and for the sake of peace o
an assured permanency. We have beer
obliged to adopt a submarine warfar,
to meet the declared intentions Of oui
enemies and the methods OF warfar,
adopted by them in contravention o
International law
with all its efforts in principle {,
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger
man government recognized unresev
eddy in its memorandum Of Februar,
4 that the interests Of neutrals nigh
suffer from the submarine warfare
However, the American government
will also understand and appreciat,
that in the fight for existence whicl
has been forced upon Germany by tt
adversaries and announced by them /
is the sacred duty Of the imperial gov
eminent to do all within its power I,
protect and save the lives of German
subjects. If the imperial government
we're derelict in these things. its du
ties, it would be guilty before God ant
history Of the violation Of these prin
eiples Of highest humanity which ar
the foundation Of every national ez
istenee.
THE case Of the Lusitania show
with horrible clearness to what ieoT
ardizing Of human lives the manner o
conducting war employed by our ad
versaries leads. In the most direc
contradiction Of international law, al
distinctions between merchantmel