Fair play., 1916-05-13
KAISER'S REPLY
is AN EVASION
PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE ON
SUBMARINE ISSUE STILL
UNANSWERED.
ADMITS TORPEDOlNG SUSSEX
Urges U. S. TO Insist on Great Britain
Living Up to Rules of lnterna-
tional Law - Makes Some
Ungracious Concessions.

Washington, d. C-After waiting
several weeks for the Kaiser's reply
to President Wilson's last note on the
submarine issue, the following docu-
ment was handed to Ambassador Ge-
rard on the afternoon of May 4:
"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 auth
critics, for early investigation, the
evidence concerning the Sussex, as
communicated by the government of
results that the investigation has
| hitherto yielded, the German govern
ment is alive TO the possibility that
the ship mentioned In the note of
April 10 as having been torpedoed by
a German submarine is actually iden-
! teal 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
commander was wrong in assuming
| the vessel to be a man-of-war, the
| German government will not fail to
draw the consequences resulting
therefrom.
"In connection with the case of
the Sussex, the government of the
United States made a series of state
ments, the gist of which Is the as
sertion that the incident is to be con-
sidered but one instance of deliber
ate method of indiscrimlnate destruc-
tion of vessels OF all sorts, nationali-
ties and destinations by German sub
marine commanders.
Repudiates American Assertion.
"The German government must
emphaically repudiate the assertion.
The German government, however,
thinks IT. 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-reach-
ing restraints upon the use OF the sub
marine weapon, solely in considera-
tion of neutrals interests in spite Of
the fact that the restrictions are nee
essarily of advantage 10 Germanys
enemies. No such consideration has
ever been shown neutrals by GGreat
Britain and her allies.
THE German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
the submarine warfare in accordance
with the general principles of visit
Ind search and the destruction of
merchant vessels recognized by inter
ing the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade carried on enemy freight
ships encountered in the war zone
surrounding Great Britain. With re-
gard to these no assurances have
been given to the government of the
United States. No such assurances
are contained in the declaration Of
Feb. s, 1916.
"The German government cannot
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 war
fare on land, implies unavoidable dan
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even in
cases where the naval action Is con-
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser war
fare, neutral persons and goods re.
peatedly come to grief.
"The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly pointed out
the dangers from mines that hN-e
led to the loss Of numerous ships.
Offers Further Concession.
''The German government has made
several proposals TO the government
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 1t accepted, the government OF
the United States would have been
instrumental in preventing the great
er part Of the accidents that American
citizens have met with in meantime.
"The German government still
stands by its offer to come to an
agreement along these lines.
"As the German government re.
peatedly declared, 1t cannot dispense
with the use OF the submarine weapon
In the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade The German govern