The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-05-12

berlln, Dy wireless TO SayV1lle, N.
Y.-Following is the text of the note
If the German government, in reply
o the American note respecting sub
marine warfare, delivered on Thurs
day. by Gottlieb Won Jagow. the for
aign secretary, to Ambassador Gerard:
1.-The undersigned. on behalf of the
imperial German government, has the
honor to present to His Excellency,
The ambassador of the United States,
Mr.. James w. Gerard, the following
reply to the note of April 20, regard
ing 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 communicate
ed by the government 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 men
toned in the note of April 10 as hav-
ing been torpedoed by a German sub.
marine is actually identical with the
Sussex.
THE German government begs to
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are ascer-
tanned. which are of decisive import.
ance for establishing the facts of the
case. Should it turn out that the com.
mander was wrong in assuming the
vessel to be man of war, the Ger
man government will not fail to draw
the consequence resulting rnerefrom.
Denies IL is One of Series.
In connection with the case of the
Sussex the government of the United
States made a series of statements,
the gist of which is the assertion that
the incident is to be considered, but
one instance OF a deliberate method
of indiscriminate destruction of YES
sells of all sorts, nationalities and des-
tinations by German submarine COM
manders.
The German government must en-
phatically repudiate the assertion.
The German government, however,
thinks 1t of little avail to enter into
details in the present stage of affairs,
more particularly as the government
of the United States omitted to sub
stantiate the assertion by reference
to concrete facts.
"The German government will only
state that 1t has imposed far-reaching
restraints upon the use of the sub
marine weapon, solely in considera-
ton of neutrals' interests, in spite of
the fact that these restrictions are
necessarily of advantage to Germany's
enemies. No such consideration has
ever been shown neutrals by Great
Britain and her allies"
Principles of Submarine Warfare.
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 destruction of mer-
chant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, the sole exception being
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surround
ing Great Britain. With regard to
these, no assurances have ever been
given to the government of the Unit
ed States. No such assurances are
contained in the declaration of Feb
ruary 8, 1916.
"The German government can not
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can in no kind of warfare be avoided
altogether. Allowances must be made
In the conduct OF naval warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds OF ruses, whether permissible
or Illicit
But apart from the possibility of
errors, naval warfare just like warfare
Of land, implies unavoidable dangers
for neutral persons and goods enter
ing the fighting zone. Even in cases
where the naval action Is confined to
ordinary forms Of cruiser warfare, neu-
trail persons and goods repeatedly
come to grief.
THE German government has re-
peatediy and explicitly pointed out
the dangers from mines that have led
to the loss OF neutral ships.
Solicited Aid OF America.
The German government has made
proposals TO the government of the
United States In order to reduce TO a
minimum for American travellers and
goods the inherent dangers OF naval
warfare. Unfortunately, tine govern
ment OF the United States decided
not to accept the proposals. Had It
accepted the government OF the Unit.
ed States would have been instru'
mental In preventing the greater part
OF the accidents that the American