Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-05-11

ment, however, has now decided TO
make a further concession, adapting
methods OF submarine war TO the in
tefests Of neutrals.
in reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con.
siderations which are above the level
Of the disputed question.
"1n self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare while
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence. Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
"The German government attaches
10 less Importance to the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment of the United States. 1t again
fully takes into account that both gov.
ernments for many years ~co-operated
in developing International law in con
formity with these principles, the ulti.
mate object of which has always been
to confine warfare on sea and land
to armed forces Of belligerents and
safeguard as far as possible non-com.
batants against the horrors Of war.
Although these considerations are of
great weight, they alone would not
under the present circumstances have
determined the attitude of the Ger.
man government.
"For, in answer to the appeal by
the government of the United States
on both Of the sacred principles OF
humanity and International law, the
German government must repeat once
more with all emphasis that it was
not the German, but the British gov.
eminent which ignored all accepted
rules of international law and extend
ed this terrible war to the lives and
property of non-combatants, having
no regard whatever for the interests
and rights of neutrals and non+com
batants that, through this method Of
warfare, have been severely injured.
Dissemination Is Charged.
CAS- matters stand, the German
government cannot but ~reiterate re
greet that the sentiments of humanity
which the government of the United
States extend with such fervor to the
unhappy victims of submarine war
fare, are not extended with the same
warmth of feeling to many millions Of
women and children, who, according
to the avowed intention of the British
government, shall be starved and who
by sufferings, shall force the victori
Gus armies of the central powers into
ignominious capitulation.
"The German government, in agree
ment with the German people, fails
to under stand this discrimination, ali
the more as it has repeatedly and
explicitly declared itself ready to use
the submarine weapon in strict con
formity with the rules of international
laws as recognized before the out
break of the war, if Great Britain
likewise was ready to adapt the con
duct of warfare to these rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
eminent of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government tc
act accordingly failed because Of flat
refusal of the British government
Moreover, Great Britain again and
again has violated international law
| surprising all bonds in outraging neu
trail rights. The latest measure
adopted by Great Britain, declaring
German bunker coal c~ontraband ant
establishing conditions under which
English bunker coal alone is supplied
to neutrals is nothing but an unheart
of attempt by way of exaction tt
force neutral tonnage into the service
of British trade war.