Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-07-16
NOTE To GERMANY
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something much m9r. -ir.5.e and
ro~i-.s. cham has yat ho"n sad in the
to'o- which th" IHu.l States has
semi sine" me submarine var zone
VAS declared is NOW expected
Or:cals gave The impression that
there would be no further argument
on the principles involved, that the
note would De very brief and state a
general policy which the American
government intends to follow with
respect 10 violations that have
already occurred, or shall take place
in the war zone.
In German quarters here the stu
alton is not viewed as critical. Count
Won Bernstorf, the German ambassa-
dor. believes that the way to further
negotiations has been opened by the
emphasis which Germany in its note
placed upon the establishment OF the
freedom OF the seas.
disappointment Appare Imme-
diately.
The air Of disappointment over the
note pervaded Official circles imme-
diately after it's publication for,
although eloquent in it's protestations
Of friendship for America, it fatty re-
jected every vital thing the president
had demanded and left all disputed
points in connection with Germany's
submarine warfare just as they were
when the Lusitania was sunk. Ger
many, in fact, not only assumes all
responsibility for that disaster but
defended it in the note, declaring it
to have been a necessary reprisal for
England's method of war against her.
On no material point did Germany
make any concession. She stands
squarely on her declaration that her
submarine warfare was forced on her
by her enemies. She says her ma
tional existence depends on its con-
tinuance. She admits the desirable
ity of protecting neutrals but de-
CIdI co sic has pIOnioCu CoAy GA
she can do in this connection.
Stripped of diplomatic language, it
was recognized that the German note
was refusal to modify her subma-
rine warfare. The kaiser's position
is that all enemy shipping is fair prey
for his under-sea boats. He declares
his enemies "have obliterated all dis
tinctions between merchant and war
craft"
Claiming this, he enunciates new
principle of International law-that
the imperial government is unable
to admit that American citizens can
protect any enemy ship through the
mere fact of their presence on
board"
Important Features of Note.
The chief points in the note were:
England practically completely in
tercepted legitimate neutral naviga-
ton to Germany. Thus Germany was
driven to submarine war on trade.
Since March 1 England has been
taking from neutral ships without
further formality all merchandise
proceeding to Germany, as we'll as all
merchandise coming from Germany,
even when neutral property.
The German people are now to be
given the choice of perishing from
starvation, with their women and
children, or of relinquishing their in
dependence.
We are conducting a war in self
defense for our national existence
and for the sake of peace of an as
sured permanency.
1t is the sacred duty of the impe-
rial government to do all in its power
to protect and save the lives Of Ger
man subjects.
If the Lusitania had been spared.
thousands of cases of ammunition
would have been sent to Germany's
enemies and thereby thousands of
German mothers and children robbed
of their bread-winners.
American ships will not be him
dered in the prosecution Of legiti-
mate shipping.
Lives of American citizens in neu-
trail vessels shall not be placed in
jeopardy.
The imperial government is unable
to admit that American citizens can
protect an enemy ship through the
mere fact of their presence on board.
While the note was being received
with great disappointment in official
circles in this country, Germany was
jubilant over it, one official being
quoted as saying:
Germany has not granted every
thing that America asked, but she
has conceded all that should reason
ably be expected of her. We are con-
fdent that the German reply will |