, 1916-05-10

rules. Several attempts made Ivy the Gov
eminent OF the United States 10 prevail
upon the British Government to act ac-
cordingly failed because of fiat ~refusais
on the part of the British Government.
Moreover, Great Britain again and again had
violated international Law surprising all
bounds in outraging neutral rights. The
latest measure adopted by Great Britain in
declaring German bunker coal contraband
and establishing conditions under which
English'coal alone is supplied to ueutrals is
nothing but all unheard of attempt by way
of exaction to force neutral tonnage into
the service of British trade-war. The Ger
man people know that the Government
of the Unit ed States has the power to
confine the war to armed forces of the bel
ligerent countries in the interest of human
ity and maintenance of international Law.
The Government of the United States would
have been certain Of attaining this end had
il been determined to insist, against Great
Britain, on the incontrovertible rights to the
freedom Of the sen. But as matters stand
tue German people are under the impression
that the Government OF the United States,
while demanding that Germany, struggling
for existence, shall restrain the use of an
effective weapon, and while making compli-
ance with these demands a condition for
maintenance of relations, while Germany con-
fined itself to protests against illegal methods
adopted by Gelmany's enemies, moreover
the German people know to what extent
their enemies are supplied with all kinds of
war material by the United States. 1t will
therefore be understood that the appeal
made by the Government of the United
States TO sentiments of humanity and princi-
pies of International Law cannot, under the
circumstances, meet the same hearty re-
snOnEa from the Chairman naoDIo Ubirh c,.b
an appeal otherwise always is certain to find
here. If the German Government, neverthe.
less, is resolved to 60 to the utmost limit Of
concessions IL has been guided, not alone by
the friendship connecting the two great
nations for over 100 years, but nlso by the
thought of the great doing which threatens
the entire civilized world, should the cruel
and sanguiuary war be extended and pro-
longed. The German Government, conscious
OF Germanys strength, twice within the last
few months, announced before the world lis
readiness TO make peace on u basis safeguard
ing Germuny's vital interests, thus Indicating
that it is not Germany's fault if peace is still
withheld from the nations of Europe. The
German Government feels the more justified
III declaring that responsibility could not be
borne before the forum of mankind and in
history, it after Il months of the wars durN-
ton, the submarine question under discus
sion between the German Government and
the Government of the United States, were
to take a turn seriously threatening mainte-
nance Of peace between the two nations.
AS far as lies within the German Govern
ment, it wishes to prevent things from talk
ing such q course. The German Government
moreover is prepared to do its utmost 10 con
fine operations of the war tor the rest Of it's
duration to the fighting forces of the belli-
gorents, thereby also iusuring freedom of the
'sens, a principle upon which the German
Government believes now as before, that it
is IN agreement with the Government of the
United States. The German Government
guided by this idea, notifies the Government
of the United States that German naval for
ces have received the following Orders: "In
accordance will the general principles of
visit and search and the destruction of
merchant vessels recognized by Inter-
national Law, such vessels, both within
and without the area declared a naval
wal zone, shall not sink without warning aud
without saving human lives unless the ship
attempt to escape or offer resistance" But
~neutrals cannot expect that Germany, fore
ed to fight for existence, for the sake of neu-
trail interests shall restrict the use of an
effective weapon if the enemy is permitted