The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-29
American government of May

A1U6ElCdu SoFOI uA4CAS u "oy i''
spoke expressly Of unarmed merchant
men. Furthermore the formula agreed
upon by both governments on Septem-
Der l contained h provtso provided
that they do not offer resistance A
submarine commander cannot pos
sibly warn an enemy liner, II h liner
has the right to fire on the
It is obvious that such resistance to
the warning by a submarine cannot
be the meaning of armed for defen-
sive purposes even If it were univer-
sally recognized that defensive anna
ment is permitted by international
law. This point of view was adopted
by the American government when 1t
requested assurances from the Italian
ambassador hat h armed Italian
boat, Vedid Verona, which entered the
port of New York would not fire on
submarines when warned by them.
"The imperial government issued its
new orders to the German navaI COM
manders after having seer by the sec
ret orders Of the British admiralty
that the armament of British mer-
chantmen is to be used for the pur-
poses Of attack and that these ships
are not merely peace traders armed
for defense British merchantmen
have furthermore, on several occa-
sions, attacked German or Austro-
Hungarian submarines. They do.
therefore, not conform with the as
surances given by the British govern
ment in the note Of the British am
bassador in Washington, August 20,
1914 and can even according to the
legal point of view adopted by the
American government not be regarded
as peaceful traders.
"In issuing the new orders to its
naval commanders the imperial gov
eminent believed itself to be entirely
in accord with the American govern
ment which expressed similar opinions
in the proposals which it submitted
to the entente powers. The orders is
sued to the German naval commanders
are so formulated that enemy liners
may not be destroyed on account Of
their armament unless such armament
is proved. It is therefore obvious
that the imperial government does not
intend to revoke the pledges given
September / and October Is, 1915.
THE imperial government welcomes
the intention Of the American govern
ment to bring about modus vivendi
among belligerents in regard to the
disarmament Of merchantmen, but
cannot see it's way to change or post
pOu0 LQc ne" OTu6TS " lis naval GULL
mandsrs because the imperial govern
ment can no longer permit it's subma-
rines to be subjected to Illegal attacks
by armed enemy merchantmen"
The document is signed by Count
Won B%ernstorff. A list of British e
sells which are alleged to have at
tackled German n Austrian subma-
rines was appended to the memoran-
dunn when it was delivered to the state
department.
The German embassy today re-
ceived from the Berlin foreign office
for it's information in negotiating with
the state department, several alleged
excerpts from the British legation.
tending to show offensive arming OF
British merchantmen was publicly ad-
mitted in England.
The London Times naval cores
pondent is quoted as saying in the
issue of February 10 hat the British
! merchantmen Kashgar and City Of
Marseilles and the French steamer
Tlata opened fire on submarines after
sighting them.
The Daily Graphic is quoted from
! the issue of February IL as follows
Let It be understood that We shall
not limit our action for defensive
measures"