Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-05-12
REPLY
TO GERMAN NOTE
DECLARATION or ABANDONMENT
OF FORMER SUBMARINE POLICY
ACCEPTED IN GOOD FAITH.
imperial Government 10 Notified That
the Dispute With Great Britain
Has No Bearing Upon
the Matter.

Washington. President Wilson's
reply TO the German note, cabled by
Secretary Lansing to Ambassador Ger
ard at Berlin on May s. informs the
German government that the United
States accepts It's declaration OF
abandonment of its former submarine
policy and now relies upon q scrupu
lous execution OF the altered policy tc
remove the principal danger of an in.
terruption of the good relations exist.
ing between the two countries"
With this acceptance Is coupled for
mai notice to Germany that the Unit.
ed States cannot for moment enter,
tain, much less discuss, suggestion
that respect by German naval author
tiles of the rights of citizens of the
United States on the high seas should
in the slightest degree be made con
-tingent upon the conduct of any other
government affecting the rights OF
neutrals and noncombatants.
Following is the text of the note:
THE note OF the imperial German
| government under date of May l, 1916,
the government of the United States.
1t is especially noted, as indicating the
purpose of the imperial government as
to the future, that 1t is prepared to
| do its utmost to confine the operation
of the war for the rest of its duration
| to the fighting forces of the belliger-
ents,' and that 1t is determined to i'm
pose upon all its commanders at sea
/ ha koff ~ L..
of international law upon which the
government of the United States has
| insisted.
Throughout the months which
have elapsed since the imperial gov.
eminent announced on February 4,
1915, its submarine policy, now hap
PLY abandoned, the government of the
United States has been constantly
guided and restrained by motives of
friendship In its patient efforts to
bring to an amicable settlement the
critical questions arising from that
| policy. Accepting the imperial gov.
ernment's declaration of It's abandon.
ment Of the policy which has so seri.
ously menaced the good relations be-
tween the two countries, the govern.
ment Of the United States will rely
upon scrupulous execution hence
forth of the now altered policy of the
imperial government such as will re
move the principal danger to an in
terruption Of the good relations exist
Ing between the United States and
Germany.
THE government OF the United
States feels 1t necessary to state thai
1t takes it for granted that the i'm
perial government does not intend tC
imply that the maintenance of III
newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course or re
suit of diplomatic negotiations be
tween the government of the United
States and any other belligerent gov
eminent, Notwithstanding the fact thai
certain passages In the imperial gov
ernment's note of the fourth instant
might appear to be susceptible Of tina
construction. IN order, however, Il
avoid any possible misunderstanding
the government of the United State.
notifies the imperial government thai
Il cannot for moment entertain, mucl
less discuss, suggestion that respec
by German naval authorities for tn.
rights Of citizens of the United Statel
upon the high seas should in any wa
or slightest degree be made contin
gent upon the conduct OF any othel
government affecting the rights O
neutrals and noncombatants. Respon
sibility In such matters is single, no
Joint; absolute, not relative"