The Benson signal., 1916-05-20
REPLY TO BERLIN NOTE
OBSERVANCE OF NEW ORDERS
TO PREVENT SEVERANCE.
Germany Told Safety Of American
Lives Cannot Be Made Conditional
on Way England Prosecutes War.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

western Newspaper Union News Service
Observation-Disclosures is the text
OF the note cabled by Secretary Lam
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver it to the
German minister of foreign affairs:
The note of the imperial German
government under date of May 4, 1915,
has received careful consideration by
the government of the United States.
1t is especially noted as indicating the
purpose OF the imperial government as
TO the future, that it is prepared to
DO It's utmost to confine the operation
of the war for the rest of it's duration
to the fighting forces of the belliger-
ents,' and that 1t is determined to i'm
pose upon all its commanders at sea
the limitations of the recognized rules
OF international law, upon which the
government of the United States has
insisted.
throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government
announced, on Feb. 4. 1915, it's sub
marine policy now happily abandoned,
the government of the United States
strained by motives of friendship in
it's patient efforts to bring to an ami
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
ment's declaration of its abandonment
of the policy which has so seriously
menaced the good relations between
the two countries, the government Of
the United States will rely upon a
scrupulous execution henceforth of the
now altered policy of the imperial gov
ernment such as will remove the prin-
cipal danger to an interruption of the
good relations existing between the
United States and Germany.
The government Of the United
States feels it necessary to state that
1t takes it for granted that the i'm
intend to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy is in
any way contingent upon the course
of diplomatic negotiations between the
government of the United States and
any other belligerent government, not
withstanding the fact that certain pas
ages of the imperial governments note
of the 4th inst, might appear to be
susceptible of that construction.
I'm order, however. to avoid any
possible misunderstanding, the gov
ernment of the United States notifies
the imperial government that 1t can
discuss, suggestion that respect by
the German naval authorities for the
rights of citizens of the United States
upon the high seas should in any way
contingent upon the conduct of any
other government affecting the rights
of neutrals and noncompliance. Re-
sponsibility in such matters is single.
Mr.. LanSingS statement made public
after the note was on it's way to Ber-
lin, follows:
1.-The greater part of the German
answer is devoted to matters which
this government cannot discuss with
the German government. The only
questions of right which can be dis
cussed with that government are
those arising out of it's action or out
IF our own and in no event those Ques-
tions which are the subject. of diplo,,
matte exchanges between the United
States and any other country.
"ha esser"e # he answer is that
Germany yleIds to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
ships and noncombatants. on the high
seas. and engages to observe the rec
Ognized rules of international law
governing naval warfare in using her.
submarines against merchant ships. So
long as she lives up to this altered
policy we can have no reason to quar-
rel with her on that score. though tn:
losses resulting from the violation OF
commanders operating under the form
er policy will have to be settled.
while our differences with Great
Britain cannot form subject of dis.
cussion with Germany, it should be
stated that in our dealings with the
British government we are acting as
we are unQuestionably bound to act In
view of the explicit treaty engage
ments with that government 'o
have treaty obligations as to the man"
ner in which matters IL dispute oe-
tween the two governments are TO DC
handled.
similar obligations with Germany, bu
the offer was declined. When how
ever, the subject in dispute is con
tinuing menace to American llves IL Is
dt ubtful whether such oblgatlonS aP-
ply unless the menace is removed dur.
ino the DendencV of the proceedings.