Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-24
SUPPRESSION or PAPER
OF DEEP SIGNIFICANCE
Honestly Desires Peaceful Settle
mcnt With This Country.
NDICApPED BY PRESS
Several Journals Have Persisted in
Aggravating Serious situation
Arising From Submarine Warfare.
Not to Abandon Undersea Weapon.
ny GUSTAV SCHWEPPENDICI<,
Editor of the New York Deutschcs
.JOurnDl.

| journal.
/ BERLIN. June % Via Rotterdam).-
The suppression of the Deutsches
, Tagcszeitung for aggravating the
! American situation is considered of the
greatest international Significance Ac-
cording TO an exclusive statement given
TO me by the Foreign Office, the drastic
i zcitung means a continuance of the
liaiser's policy OF avoiding unnecessary
complications with neutral powers
especially the United States. y promi-
nent statesman OF the Wilhelmstrasse
/ said to me:
The motive underlying the suppress
sion of the Tageszeitung is the German
governments honest desire to consider
American interests fairly without aban-
doning their own rightful privileges
Several newspapers have persevered in
handicappng tho governments peace
full cndeavors.
The Taseszeitune has been especially
vindictive. and since the Lusitania
sinking il has persisted In aggravatinc
| the difficult German American situa-
ton.
The suppression, however, must not
he interpreted by Americans as indicat-
ing the abandonment of submarine war
fare by the German government. II
was aimed solely at preventing ex-
cesscs by newspapers. whether con-
servatire or radical. tending to increase
the complications. The time and eX-
tent of the suppression are uncertain.
but the punishment must be considered
as warning to all trouble making
newspapers.
while the government has been
anxious in good faith to continue the
negotiations with the United States FOR
Il mutually satisfactory settlement.
without rcceding from a policy which
will enabel us to retain our self-rcspect
and. at the same time. without losing
sight of the object of the war. these
newspapers have discredited Germany's
statesmen and have denounced them
as spineless weaklings, anxious TO dis
continue submarine warfare
NEW WAR INSTRUMENTS
DEMAND NEW RULES
Tho American government seems to
overlook the fact that new war instru-
nents demand the applying OF new
legal rules. as was done at the latest
The Hague congress In reference to
aeEopianes Germany cannot diScOn-
tinue submarine warfare without aban-
doning her most important weapon.
1T is not our intention TO hurt un-
necessarily the feelings OF any neutral
! nation. but we will not permit anybody
TO interfere with our submarine opera
tions. We do not intend to torpedo
neutral vessels. II any such case has
happened IL was due to n mistake on
our part, for which we will atone or
ii was the fault of the vessel in trying
TO escape. In flying false colors or in
not properly displaying neutral signals
we do not sink neutrals for fun.
We are sorry for every mistake, hut
we would consider IL a favor If neutraIs
would get out OF our way, and thus
avoid getting hurt by accident
Even English merchant vessels are
! torpedoed only in cases OF absolute
necessity. No American will DENY us
our rightfuI privilege of sinking YES
sells carrying ammunition Liable TO de-
stroy thousands OF German lives.
I'm the meantime. until the Lusi-
tania investigation is concluded. the
newspapers must carefully refrain from
aggravattng the situation.
This is the principal object and the
significance of suppression of the
Tagcszeitung."