Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-09
Memorandum Handed Secre-
tay Lansing by Won Bern
storff Goes Fully Into Whole
Question Now in Dispute,
SUBMARINE WARFARE
PRESENTS NEW ISSUE
History Of Present Controversy
Is Analysed and Part That
Great Britain Has Played in
Controversy Is Discussed,

~ ~
NV MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL .assae wiaal
Washington, March S.--Thc German
government. in a memorandum, hand
ed today by Count von Bernatorff to
Secretary Lansing. outlines IN detail
ils position In regard TO armed ships
reviews events leading up to Its dcci.
sion to torpedo without warning all
'armed mcrchantment OF its enemies.
Iconcedes that international law as at
present constituted, makes no provi-
sion for the use of submarines, and
expresses q willingness 10 operate it's
submarines In accordance with the in
;ernational law prevailing prior to the
war ON the condition that Great nri-
tain does not violate the same laws.
The text Of the memorandum reads
as follows
The imperial German government,
.on account Of The friendly relations
which have always existed between tho
two great nations and earnestly desir-
ing to continue them. wishes TO ak
plain the W-boat question once moro
to the American government.
AT the outbreak of the war, the
German government acting upon the
suggestion of the United States, I'M
Imediately expressed It's readiness to
ratlfy the declaration OF London. AZ
that time n German prize code had al
ready been issued, which was entirely.
and without modification, based upon
tho rules OF tho declaration OF London.
Germany thereby proved hor Wiling
ness to recognize fully% the existing
rules of international law wh.,'h n-
.A.s... 80 ~
legitimate trade Of neutral nations no,
only among themselves but also wfh
bclligcrent countries.
Position of Great Britain.
''Great britain. on The uthc. hand
deemed to ratlfy the declaration Of
London and after the outbreak of the
war, began to restrict the legitimate
trade of tho neutralS ~ order To hit
Germany The eontraband provisions
were Systematically extended on Au-
gust 8, 20, September u and October
20, 1911. ON November g. 1914. the
order of the British admiralty followed
declaring the whole North sea war
zone In which commercial shipping
would be exposed to the most serious
danger from mines and men-of-war.
Protests from neutras were of no
dom OF neutral commerce with Ger
many vas practically destroyed. I'm
der the circumstances Germany was
to resort. in February. 1916.
10 reprisals in order TO fight her OPP
poncnts' measures which were abso-
lutely contrary 10 International law.
Sho chose for this purpose a new
weapon. the use of which had not yet
been regulated by International law
and in doing so. did not violate any
existing rules. but only took into ac-
count the pecullarity Of this new weap-
on, tho submarine boat.
THE use Of the submarine naturally
uccesstpted Il restriction of tho FREQ
Of nentrals ana constituted
a danger for them which Germany in
tended to ward off by q special warm
Ing analogous to the warning England
had given resarding the North sea,
AS both lgerents-tiermany In
her note of February II and Great
Britain in those of February Is and
20, l9l5--claime that their proceed
nk yaA only enacted IN retaliation for
he violation of international law by
heir opponent, the American govern
ncnt approached both parties for the
purpose OF trying to ro-cstablish inter-
ihAibllul AiN uN II lluH U'fii III ApiNd
lCfOrc the war Germany was asked to
ldapt the use of her new weapon TO
he rules which had been existing for
he former naval weapons. and Eng
aud not to interfere with the food
upplies intended fur the non-combat-
mt German population and to admit
heir distribution under American su-
lcrvision. Germany on March |,
9l6, declared her Willingness to COM
ilv with the proposal Of the American
government. whilst England. on the
lthcr hand. declined to do so. By the
rider in council March ~, 1915, Great
Britain abolished even what had re-
naincd of the freedom Of neutrais and
ler neutral nolshbors. Enslands OBJ
Get was TO starvc Germany into sub.
mission ny these Illegal means.
Complied with American View.
Germany. altCr neutral citizens had
ost their lives against tho wish and
Intention nevertheless in the further
Of the war, complied with the
fishes OF the American government
egarding the use Of her submarines.
he rights of neutrals regarding legal
rading were in fact nowhere limited
y Germany.
Then England made it impossible
~ submarines to conform With the
ld rules Of International law by arm
lg nrarly all her merchantment and
y ordering the use OF guns ON mer-
hant vessels for attack. Photographs
reproductions of these instructions
ave been transmitted TO neutral gov
with the memorandum of
1c German government on February
1916. These orders are obviously
! contradiction with tbe nofp deliy-
red by The british ambassador IN
TO the American govern
rent on October %. 1914. on account
I the proposal made by the United
tates on January 2S, 1915, regarding
isarmament. the imperial government
oped that these facts would enable
eutra1 ~oyernYOenfe IN ohfaiu the dis