Fair play., 1916-05-13

In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
sidcrations which are above the level
of the disputed question.
"In self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare while
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
"The German government attaches
no less importance to the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment of the United States. It again
fully takes into account that both gov
| ernments for many years co-operated
! in developing International law in con-
| formity with these principles, the ulu-
mate object of which has always been
| to confine warfare on sea and land
| to armed forces of belligerents and
| safeguard as far as possible nonCom-
! batants against the horrors of war.
| Although these considerations are of
great weight, they alone would not
under the present circumstances have
| determined the attitude of the Ger
man government.
"For, in answer to the appeal by
the government of the United States
| on both of the sacred principles of
humanity and international law, the
! German government must repeat once
more with all emphasis that it was
not the German, but the British gov
ernment which ignored all accepted
rules Of international law and extend
ed this terrible war to the lives and
property of non-combatAnts, having
no regard whatever for the interests
and rights of neutrals and non-com-
batants that, through this method of
warfare, have been severely injured.
Dissemination Is Charged.
"As matters stand, the German
government cannot but reiterate re-
gret that the sentiments of humanity,
which the government of the United
States extend with such fervor to the
unhappy victims of submarine war
fare, are not extended with the same
warmth of feeling to many millions of
women and children, who, according
to the avowed intention of the British
government, shall be starved and who,
GUS armies Of the central powers into
ignominious capitulation.
1.-THE German government, in agree
ment with the German people, fails
to under stand this discrimination, all
the more as it has repeatedly and
explicitly declared itself ready to use
the submarine weapon in strict con-
formity with the rules of international
laws as recognized before the out
break of the war, If Great Britain
likewise was ready to adapt the con-
duct of warfare to these rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because Of flat
refusal of the British government.
Moreover Great Britain again and
again has violated international law,
surprising all bonds in outraging neu-
trail rights. The latest measure,
adopted by Great Britain, declaring
German bunker coal contraband and
establishing conditions under which
English bunker coal alone is supplied
to neutrals is nothing but an unheard
of attempt by way of exaction to
force neutral tonnage into the service
of British trade war.
Reason for Its conce essions.
"The German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces OF the belligerent countries in
the interest of humanity and main
tenance of international law. The
government of the United States
would have been certain Of attaining
this end had It been determined to
insist against Great Britain on the
incontrovertible rights of freedom Of
the seas. But as matters stand the
German people are under the impress
sion that the government of the Unit
ed States, while demanding that Ger
many struggling for existence, shall
restrain the use OF an effective weap-
on and while making compliance with
these demands a condition for main
tenance Of relations with Germany,
confines itself to protests against H.
legal methods adopted by Germany's
enemies.
Moreover, the German people
know to what considerable extent its
enemies are supplied with all kinds
of war material from the United
States.
at will, therefore, be understood
that the appeal made by the govern
ment of the United States to senti-
ments of humanity and principles of
international law cannot, under the
circumstances, meet the same hearty
response from the German people
which such an appeal otherwise al
ways is certain to find here, II the
German government, nevertheless, is
resolved to go to the utmost limit
OF concessions, it has been guided,
not alone by the friendship connect
ing the two great nations for over
100 years, but also by the thought OF
the great doom which threatens the
entire civilized world should the
cruel and sanguinary war be extended
and prolonged.
"The German government, con-
scious of Germany's strength, twice