Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-05

PUTS BLAME ON BRITAIN.
In answer TO the appeal by the Gov.
ernment of the United States on be.
half of the sacred principles OF hu.
manity and international law the
German Government must repeat once
more with all the emphasis at its
command that II was not the German
but the British Government which,
ignoring all the accepted rules of in.
ternational law. extended this terrible
war TO the lives and property of non.
combatants, having no regard what
ever for the interests and rights of
neutrals and non.combatants that
through this method of swarfare. have
been severely injured. r.
In self-defense against the Illegal
conduct of warfare by the British,
and while lighting a bitter struggle
for her very national existence, Ger
many has had to resort to the hard
but effective weapon of submarine
warfare.
As matters stand, the German Gov
ernment cannot but reiterate that the
sentiments of humanity, which the
Government of the United States ex-
tends with such fervor to unhappy
victims of submarine warfare 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 Gov
ernment, shall be starved, and who,
by suffering. shall force the victorious
armies of the Central Powers into
ignominOus capituiation.
DISCRIMINATION CHARGED.
The German Government in agree
10 uA he
people fails 10 understand this dis
elimination, all the more as this Gov
ernment has explicitly declared itself
ready TO use the submarine in strict
conformity with the rules of inter-
national law as recognized before the
outbreak of the war II Great Britain
will likewise adapt her conduct of the
war to these rules.
Several attempts made by the Cow
ernment OF the United States TO pre-
vail upon the British Government to
act accordingly lin accord with the
principles If International law failed,
because of the fiat refusal on the part
of England.
Moreover Great Britain ever since
the beginning of the war Ggain and
again violated international law. sur
passing all bounds in outraging neu-
tral rights The latest measure
adopted by Great Britain in declaring
German bunker coal contraband and
establishing conditions under which
only English bunker coal can be sup
piled to ueutrals is nothing but an
unheard-of attempt, by the way of
eXaction of force, TO compel neutral
tonnage to enter the service of the
British.
POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
The German people know that the
Government OF the United States has
power TO eOnfne the war to armed
forces and 10 belligerent countries In
the interests of humanity and to main
tain 1.-THE integrity of international
law.
The Government of the United
States would have ben certain in at
tanning its end had IL been determined
to insist (protesD against Great Brit
ain on its incOntTOveFtible rights to
the freedom Of the seas.
But as matters stand the German
people are under the impression that
the Government of the United States,
while demanding that Germany. strug-
Cling for existence, shall restrain the
use of its effective weapon while max
ing compliance with those demands
(of the United states) for the main
tenance OF (amicable) relations. Ger
many confined itself 10 protests
against Illegal methods adopted by
Germanys enemies.
Moreover, the German people know
70 what considerable extent the enc
mics (of Germany are supplied with
all kinds OF war materials from the
United States.
DOOM THREATENS WORLD"
Il VIII therefore be understood that
the appeal made by the Governments Of
the United States 10 the sentiments
Of humanity aud the principles OF in
transitional Law eannot meet with the
same hearty response from the Ger
man people which saeh an appeal
would otherwise always certainly dna
here.
II the German Governments never
theless resolved 10 so 20 the utmost
limit 81 concessions, Il has aot alone
bees guided b. the Friendship coa-
nectins the two Ersaf nations for
moEe fhan 100 years. but also -
lhf thought 81 the great doonl .hish
thseafeas Ehs enllEe eltllized sorsd