The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-05-06

HERE'S TEXTOF THE NOTE

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
within the last few months announced
before the world its readiness to make
lpeace on a basis safeguarding Ger
many's vital interests, thus indicating
that il is not Germany's fault if peace
lis still withheld from the nations of
Europe. The German government
feels all the more justified in declar-
ing that responsibility could not be
borne before the forum of mankind
and in history if after twenty-one
months of the wars duration the
submarine question under discussion
between the German government and
the government of the United States
were to take turn seriously threat
ening maintenance of peace between
the two countries.
LAS far as lies with the German
government it wishes to prevent
things from taking sucn course.
1.-THE German government, moreover
is prepared to do its utmost to con-
fine operations of the war for the
rest of its duration to the fighting
forces of the beligerents. thereby
also insuring freedom of the seas, a
principle upon which the German
government believes now, as before,
that it is in agreement with the gov
eminent of the United States.
The German government, guided
by this idea, notifies the government
of the United States that German
naval forces have received the fol-
lowing order:
"fIn accordance with the general
principles of visit and search and the
destruction of merchant vessels rec
Iognized by international law, such
vessels, both within and without the
area declared a naval war zone. shall
not be sunk without warning and
without saving of human lives unless
the snip attempt to escape or offer
resistance
But neutrals cannot expect that
Germany, forced to fight for exist
ence shall, for the sake of neutral
Interests, restrict the use of an effec-
tive weapon il the enemy is permitted
to continue to apply at will meth
DDS of warfare violating rules of in
ternational law. Such a demand
would be incompatible with the
character of neutrality, and the Ger
man government is convinced that
; the government of the United States
does not think of making such de-
mand knowing that the government
Of the United States repeatedly de-
clares that it is determined to re-
store the principles of freedom of the
seas from whatever quarter it has
been violated.
Accordingly, the German govern
ment is confident that in conse-
qence of the new orders issued to
the naval forces, the government of
the United States will now also con
slider all pendiments removed which
may have been in the way of mutual
cooperation toward restoration OF
the freedom of the seas during the
war, as suggested in the note Of July
90, 1915, and it does not doubt that
the government of the United States
will now demand and insist that the
British government shall forthwith
observe the rules of international law
universally recognized before the
war as are laid down in the notes
presented by the government Of the
United States, to the British govern
ment, December %. 1914, and No
yember 5, 1915.
Should steps taken by the govern
ment of the United States not attain
the object it desires to have the laws
of humanity followed by all beIiger-
ent nations the German government
would then be facing a new situation
in which it must reserve to itself
complete liberty of decision.
THE undersigned avails himself of
this opportunity to renew to the
American ambassador assurances of
highest consideration"