The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-06
GERMANY COMPLAINS
Continued From First Page)

t1tbiiIl IEi rum r II ~ ago.
Great Britain not Interfering with the
lncontroVertiGie rights of the freedom
Of the seas hut as matters stand tho
German people are under the impress
sion that the government Of the
United States while demanding that
Germany, struggling for existence,
shall restrain the use Of an effective
weapon and while making compliance
with these demands n condition for
tho maintenance Of relations with
Germany. confines itself 10 protests
against the Illegal methods adopted
ny GermanNs enemies. Moreover, the
German people know TO what con-
siderable extent their enemies are
supplied with all kinds Of war material
from the United States.
II VIII therefore he understood that
the appeal made by the government
+ NJ rho tinted StHtes to tire sentiments
OF humanity and the principles Of in
teTnatiGnal law. cannot. under the
circumstances meet with the same
hearty response from the German peo-
pie which such sn appeal other wise is
always certain to find here If the
German government. nevertheless, has
resolved to go to the utmost limit Of
concession. II has not alone been guild
4 cd bv friendship connecting two great
nations for over q hundred wears, but
/ also by the thought of the great doom
" hich threatens the entire civilized
world should the cruel and sanguin-
3nry war be extended and prolonged.
Wants To End War.
The German government, CON
sCious OF Germanys strength, has
within the last few months announced
before the world its readiness to
{ make peace on a basis safeguarding
! Germanys vital interests. thus indi-
eating that II is not Germany's fault
If peace is stll withheld from the
nations Of Europe. The German gov
eminent feels all the more justified
to declare thar responsibility could
not he borne before the forum of the
history Of mankind If after twenty
one months duration Of the war the
submarine questions under discussion
between the German. government and
the government OF the United States
We're to Ike turn seriously threat
euine the maintenance Of peace be-
tween the TWO nations
Az far AS lies with the German
government u wishes to prevent
thiuRs from taking such a course,
The German government, moreover,
", prepared 70 do the utmost to CON
fine the operations of the war. for
the rest of the duration 70 the fight
ire forces of the hellieerents. there
by also insUrine the freedom 0f the
seas a principle upon which the Ger
man government believes Itself. now
as before to be in agreement with the
government Of the United states.
The German government.
guided IN this idea, notifies the
government of the United States
that German naval forces have
received the following orders:
I'm accordance with the gem
prat priucipte~ of visit search
aud destruction of merchant
vessels recognized by interna-
tionaI law such vessels. both
within and without the area de-
clared To he n naval war zone.
shaIi not be sunk without warm
ing and without saving human
lives, unless the ships attempt tn
escape or offer resistance"
Imposes Conditions.
But neutrals cannot expect that Ger
many. forced TO fight for existence,
shall FOR the sake Of neutral interest
abandon the use Of 4 weapon when
the enemy is permitted 10 apply at
viii methods OF warfare violating the
rules Of International law. Such de-
mand would he Incompatible with the
character of neutrality and the Ger
man government is convinced that the
government Of the United States does
not think uf making such a demand.
knowing that the government OF the
United States repeatedly declares that
II is determined 10 restore he prin-
cple Of the freedom Of the seas from
whatFer quarter II has been violated.
Accordingly the German governs
nent ia confident that in consequence
or ne" orders issued to the naval
forces, the government OF the United
States viii now also see TO II that all
impediments are removed which may
have been iH the way ~ mutual CO.
opersti ton towards the restoration of
the free dom II the seas during the
war a s suggested Ia the note Of July
20, 1915, and 1t does not doubt that
i1ht t'nfEed STATES VIM nov demand
aud insist thatfhe Eritish government
snail forthwith observe the rules OF
! international Law universally receg-
ntzed before the war as are lai,i down.