Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-05-12
PRESIDENTS REPLY
TO GERMAN NOTE
DECLARATION OF ABANDONMENT
OF FORMER SUBMARINE POLICY
ACCEPTED IN GOOD FAITH.
imperial Government Is Notified That
the Dispute With Great Britain
Has No Bearing Upon
the Matter.

Washington. President Wilson's
reply to the German note, cabled by
Secretary Lansing to Ambassador Ger.
ard at Berlin on May =, informs the
German government that the United
States accepts its declaration of
abandonment OF its former submarine
policy and now relies upon n scrupu.
lous execution OF the altered policy TO
remove the principal danger of an in.
terruption of the good relations exist.
ing between the two countries"
With this acceptance is coupled for.
NAL notice to Germany that the Unit.
ed States cannot for a moment enter
tain, much less discuss, a suggestion
that respect by German naval author.
titles OF the rights of citizens of the
United States on the high seas should
in the slightest degree be made con.
tingent upon the conduct of any other
government affecting the rights OF
neutrals and noncombatants.
Following is the text of the note
The note OF the imperial German
government under date of May /, 1916,
the government OF the United States
II is especially noted. as indicating the
purpose of the imperial government as
10 the future, that II is prepared to
do its utmost to confine the operation
of the war for the rest of its duration
10 the fighting forces of the belliger.
ents.' and that 1t is determined to i'm.
pose upon all its commanders at sea
the limitations of the recognized rules
of international law upon which the
government of the United States has
insisted.
Throughout the months which
have elapsed since the imperial gov.
Prnment announced on February A.
l91@, its submarine policy. now hap.
Pily abandoned, the government of ths
United States has been constantly
guided and restrained by motives o.
friendship in its patient efforts to
bring to an amicable settlement the
critical questions arising from that
policy. Accepting the imperial gov
ernments declaration of its abandon.
ment of the policy which has so seri
ously menaced the good relations be
tween the two countries. the govern
ment of the United States will rely
upon a scrupulous execution hence
forth OF the now altered policy of the
imperial government such as will re
move the principal danger TO an in
terruption of the good relations exist
Ing between the United States anG
Germany.
The government OF the United
States feels 1t necessary to state that
1t takes II for granted that the i'm
perial government does not intend &c
amply that the maintenance OF its
newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course or re
suit of diplomatic negotiations be
tween the government OF the United
States and any other belligerent gov
eminent, Notwithstanding the fact tina,
certain passages in the imperial gov
ernments note OF the fourth instan,
might appear to be susceptible of thai
construction. In order. however, &c
avoid any possible Misunderstanding
the government of the United States
notifies the imperial government that
IL cannot for a moment entertain, mucl
less discuss, a suggestion that respec
by German naval authorities for tn,
rights of citizens of the United State.
upon the high seas should in any way
or slightest degree be made contin
gent upon the conduct of any Other
government affecting the rights o.
peutrals and noncombatants Respon
sibility in such matters is single, no
Joint; absolute, not relative"