The Ordway new era., 1916-05-19
REPLY TO BERLIN NOTE
OBSERVANCE OF NEW ORDERS
TO PREVENT SEVERANCE.
Germany Told Safety Of American
Lives Cannot Be Made Conditional
on Way England Prosecutes War.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington.-Fol Is the text
of the note cabled by Secretary Ian
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver 1t to the
German minister of foreign affairs:
'rhe note of the imperial German
government under date OF May 4, 1916,
mas received careful consideration by
the government OF the United States
1t is especially noted as Indicating the
purpose of The imperial government as
10 the future, that It is prepared to
of the war for the rest of its duration
to the fighting forces OF the belliger-
ents,' and that II Is determined to inn
pose upon all it's commanders at sea
the limit atoms OF the recognized rules
| of international law, upon which the
government of the United States has
Throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government
announced on Feb. 4, 1915. its sub
marine policy, now happily abandoned.
the government Of the United States
has been constantly guided and re-
strained by motives of friendship in
Its patient efforts to bring to an ami
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
Accepting the imperial govern
| of the policy which has so seriously
menaced the good relations bctweer \
the two countries, the government of
scrupulous execution hcnceforth of the
now altered policy Of the imperial gov
eminent such will remove the prin-
cipal danger to AN interruption OF the
good relations existing between the
United states and Germany:
THE government of the United
states feels 1t necessary to state that
| 1t takes it for granted that the i'm
| perial German government does not
of its newly announced policy is in
| any way contingent upon the course
| of diplomatic negotiations between the
| government Of the United States and
| any other belliEercnt government, not
withstanding the fact that certain pas
ages OF the imperial governments note
| susceptible of that construction.
IN order, however, to avoid any
| possible MISUNDERSTANDING. the gov
| ernmcnt of the United States notifies
| the imperial government that it can
not for moment entertain, much less
| discuss, suggestion that respect by
| the German naval authorities for the
| rights of citizens of the United states
| upon the high seas should in any way
or in the slightest degree be made
other government affecting the rights
| of neutrals and noncombatants. Re
| sponsibility in such matters is single,
not Joint: absolute, not relative"
Mr.. Lansings statement made public
after the note was on its way to Ber-
/ lin. follows:
'The greater part of the German
answer is devoted to matters which
| this government cannot discuss with
the German government. The only
questions of right WHICH can be dis
| cussed with that government are
| those arising out of its action or out
of our own and In no event those ques-
| tions which are the subject of diplo-
matte exchanges between the United
| States and any other country.
1.-THE essence of the answer is that
Germany yields to our representations
| with regard to the rights of merchant
| ships and noncombatants on the high
| seas. and engages to observe the rec
| ognized rules of international law
| governing naval warfare in using her
submarines against merchant ships. So
| policy we can have no reason to quar-
rel with her on that score. though tn:
losses resulting from the violation of
| American rights by German submarine
commanders operating under the torm-
| err policy will have to be settled.
| while our differences with Great
| Britain cannot form subject of dis
| .ussion with Germany. 1t should be
stated that in our dealings with the
| we are unuuestionably bound to act in
| view of the explicit treaty engage
| ments with that government We
| have treaty obligations as to the man
ner In which matters In dispute be
| tween the two governments are to be
handled.
| I'VE offered to assume mutually
similar obligations with Germany, But
| the offer was declined. When, how
| tinuing menace to American lives it is
| doubtful whether such obligations APP
piy unless the menace is removed dur.
iur ;he pendency' of the proceedings.