The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-05-11

OF the United States IN order to re-
duce to a minimum for American
travellers and goods the inherent dan
gers Of naval warfare Unfortunately
the government Of the United States
decided not to accept the proposals.
Had It accepted, the government OF
the United States would have been In
strumental in preventing the greater
part Of the accidents that Americans
have met with in the meantime. The
German government still stands by its
offer to come to an agreement along
these lines.
Can't Dispense With Submarine.
"As the German government repeat
edly declared, it cannot dispense with
the use Of warfare against enemy
trade. The German government, how
ever, has now decided to make a fur
ther concession, adapting methods Of
submarine war to the interests Of neu-
trais.
In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
siderations which are above the level
of the disputed question.
THE German government attaches
no less Importance to the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment Of the United States. It again
fully takes into account that both
governments for many years coop
Grated in developing international law
in conformity With these principles,
the ultimate object Of which has al
ways been to confine warfare on sea
and land to armed forces of belliger-
ents and safeguard as far as possible
noncombatants against the horrors Of
war.
Repeats Britain ls to Blame.
But although these considerations
are of great weight, they alone would
not under present circumstances have
determined the attitude of the German
government. For in answer to the
appeal by the government Of the Unit
ed States on behalf of the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity and international
law, the German government must re-
peat once more, with all emphasis,
that it was not the German but the
British government which ignored all
accepted rules of International law
and extended this terrible war to the
lives and property Of noncombatants,
having no regard whatever for the in
terests and rights of neutrals and non
combatants who through this method
of warfare have been severely injured.
In self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, while fight
ing a bitter struggle for national ex-
istence, Germany had to resort to the
hard but effective weapon of subma-
rine warfare.
Discrimination Is Charged.
"As matters stand, the German gov
ernment cannot but reiterate regret
that the sentiments of humanity
which the government of the United
States extends 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, accord.
ing to the avowed intention of the
British government, shall be starved,
and who by their sufferings, shall
force the victorious armies of the cen.
tral powers into ignominious capitu-
lation. The German government, in
agreement with the German people,
fails to understand this discrimination,
all 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 outbreak
of the war if Great Britain likewise
was ready to adapt her conduct of war
fare to these rules.
Britain Did Not Heed America.
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because of fat
refusal on the part of the British gov
ernment. Moreover, Great Britain
again and again has violated interna-
tional law, surprising all bounds in
outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain de-
claring German bunker coal contra
band and establishing conditions un-
der which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neutrals is nothing but
an unheard-of attempt by way of
exaction to force neutral tonnage into
the service of British trade.
Severely chides United States.
The German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to cOnfine the war to armed
forces of the belligerent countries in
the interest of humanity and mainte-
nance of international law. The gov
ernment of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this end
had it been determined to insist
against Great Britain on the incontro-
vertible rights to freedom of the seas.
But as matters stand the German peO-
pie are under the impression that the
government Of the United States,
while demanding that Germany, strug-
Cling for existence, shall restrain the
use of an effective weapon, and while
making compliance with these de-
mands condition for maintenance of
relations with Germany, confines it.
self to protests against illegal meth
DDS adopted by Germany's enemies.
Moreover, the German people know
to what considerable extent it's enc.
mics are supplied with all kinds of war
material from the United States.
BelittIes Plea of Humanity.
1T will, therefore, be understood that
the appeal made by the government Of
tho TTnitad States m snntiraptc Of bY