The Holly chieftain., 1916-05-12
GERMANY YIELDS
ONE BIG POINT
No More Merchantmen to Be
Sunk by Submarines With
out Visit and Search.
REPLY TO AMERICAN NOTE

mI IU AlUIklCAN NUIl
Berlin Still doubts Sussex Facts, Ae-
eusss United States Of FavorItism
and ssrates Britain's "iIIesai"
Warfare.
B>rlin.-Following is the text Of the
note OF the German governments reply
to the American note respecting subma-
rine warfare, delivered by Gottlieb Won
Jagow, the foreign secretary. to Ambas-
sador Gerard:
The undersigned, on behalf of the i'm
perial German government. has the honor
to present to his excellency the ambassa-
dor Of the United States. James w. Ge-
rard, the following reply to the note of
April 20 regarding the conduct of German
submarine warfare.
The German government handed over
to the proper naval authorities for early
investigation the evidence concerning the
Sussex as communicated by the govern
ment of the United States. Judging by
the results that the investigation has
hitherto yielded, the German government
is alive to the possibility that the ship
mentioned in the note OF April 16 as hav-
ing been torpedoed by German subma-
rine is actually Identical with the Sus-
sex.
Further investigation
OF Case to Be Made.
The German government begs to re-
serve further communication on the sub
ject until certain points are ascertained
which are of decisive Importance for es-
tablishing the facts in the case.
Should 1t turn out that the commander
was wrong in assuming the vessel to be
man-of-war. the German government
will not fail to draw the consequences re-
sulting therefrom.
In connection with the case of the Sus-
sex the government Of the United States
made series of statements. the gist of
which is the assertion that the incident is
to be considered but one instance of q
deliberate method of indiscriminate de-
struction of vessels of all sorts, national
tiles and destinations by German subma-
rine commanders.
Denies the Assertion;
Facts Not Furnished.
The German government must emphat-
ically repudiate the assertion. The Ger
man government. however. thinks 1t of
little avail to enter into details in the
present stage Of affairs, more particular
ly as the government of the United States
omitted to substanttate the assertion by
reference to concrete facts.
The German government will only state
that it has imposed far-reaching re-
straints upon the use Of the submarine
weapon, solely in consideration of neu-
trails interests, In spite of the fact that
these restrictions are necessarily of ad-
vantage to Germany's enemies. No such
consideration has ever been shown neu-
trails by Great Britain and her allies,
Special Orders Had
Been Given U-Boats.
The German submarine forces have had,
in fact, orders to conduct the submarine
warfare in accordance with the general
principles Of visit and search and the de-
structon of merchant vessels recognized
by international law, the sole exception
being the conduct of warfare against enc
my trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered In the war zone surrounding
Great Britain. With regard to these, no
assurances have ever been given to the
government of the United States. No
such assurances are contained in the
declaration Of February s. 1916.
As the German government repeatedly
declared, 1t cannot dispense with the use
of the submarine weapon in the conduct
of warfare against enemy trade The
German government. however. has now
decided to make 1t further concession.
adapting methods of submarine war to
the interests of neutrals.
In reaching this decision the German
government is actuated by considerations
which are above the level of the disputed
question.
Keeps Principles Of
Humanity in View.
The German government attaches no
less Importance to the sacred principles
of humanity than the government of the
United States. It again fully takes into
account that both governments for many
years co-operated in developing interna-
tional law In conformity with these prin-
ciples. the ultimate object of which has
always been to conf1ne warfare on sea
and land to armed forces of belligerents
and to safeguard as far as possible nom
combatants against the horrors of war.
But although these considerations are of
great weight. they alone would not under
present circumstances have determined
the attitude of the German government.
For In answer to the appeal by the gov
ernment Of the United States on behalf
OF the sacred principles of humanity and
international law, the German govern
ment must repeat once more with all
emphasis. that 1t was not the German
but the British government which ignored
all accepted rules of International law and
extended this terrific war to the lives and
property OF noncomDatants, having no re-
gard whatever for the interests and
rights of neutrals and noncombatants
that through this method of warfare have
been severely injured.
In self-defense against the illegal con-
duct Of British warfare, while fighting a
bitter struggle for national existence,
Germany had to resort to the hard but
effective weapon of submarine warfare.
AS matters stand, the German govern
ment cannot but reiterate regret that the
sentiments of humanity which the govern-