Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-07-10

the German submarine war:
The imperial government learned
with satisfaction from the note how
earnestly the government of the Unit
ed States Is concerned In seeing the
principles of humanity realized in the
present war; also this appeal finds
ready echo in Germany. and the impe
rial government is quite willing to per-
NIT its statements and decisions In the
present case to be governed by the
principles Of humanity Just as 1t has
done always.
The imperial government welcomed
with gratitude when the American
government In the note Of May Is It
self recalled that Germany had always
permitted itself to be governed by the
principles Of progress and humanity in
dealing with the law of maritime war.
Since the time when Frederick the
Great negotiated with John Adams
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefrer-
son the treaty Of friendship and COM
merce Of Sept Q, 1875, between Prus-
sia and the republic Of the west Ger
man and American statesmen have. In
fact, always stood together In the
struggle for the freedom Of the sea.
and for the protection of pesceable
trade
Beth Had eams Aim.
In the international proceedings
which since have been conducted for
the regulation Of the laws Of maritime
war Germany and America have joint
ly advocated progressive principles. es.
peciaily the aboiishment Of the right
OF capture at see and the protection Of
the interests of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the present
war the German government im1ne-
dtateiy declared its willingness. In re-
sponse to proposals OF the American
government. to ratify the deciarat ton
Of London and thereby subject itself
in the use OF its naval forces to all the
of neutrals.
Germany likewise has been aiways
tenacious of the principle that war
should be conducted against the armed
and organized forces OF an enemy coun.
try, but that the enemy civilian popu-
lation must be spared as far as posi-.
BILE from the measures of war The
imperial government cherishes the def
mite hope that some way will be found
when peace Is concluded, or perhaps
earlier. to regulate the law OF mari
time war in a manner guaranteeing the
freedom Of the seas and will welcome
1t with gratitude and satisfaction If II
can work hand in hand with the Amer
lean government on that occasion
Designs on Germany.
II 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. 1t
ls 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-
tion at the destruction, not SO much OF
the armed forces as the life Of the
German nation, repudlating In doing so
all the rules of international law and
disregarding all rights OF neutrals.
On Nov. 8. 1914, England declared
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.
and that actually blockading neutral
coasts and ports contrary to all inter
national law. Long before the begin
ming of submarine war England prac-
tically intercepted legitimate neutral
ma avigstion to Germany also. Thus
war on trade.
Would starvs the PeopIs.
On Nov. IA, 1914. the English pre-
mier declared in the house Of com
mons that 1t was one Of England's
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March l England has been taking
from neutral ships without further
formality all merchandise proceeding
to Germany, as we'll as all merchan-
disc coming from Germany. even
when neutral property. Just as It
was also with the Beers. the German
people is now TO be given the choice
of perishing from starvation with its
women and children or OF reiInquish-
ing its independence.
While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction. we were
conducting a war in self defense for
our national existence and for the sake
of peace of an assured permanency.
We have been obliged TO adopt sub
marine warfare to meet the declared
Intentions of our enemies and the
method OF warfare adopted by them IN
contrsvention OF international law.
With all its efforts in principle TO pro-
tect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible. the Ger
man government recognized unreserv-
edly in its memorandum Of Feb. 4 that