Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-12-01
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.
Washington.-Following is the text
of the note cabled by Secretary Ian.
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver 1t 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
to tSs fSturs that e
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 It is determined to i'm
pose upon all Its commanders at sea
the limitations of the recognized rules
government Of the United States has
insisted.
Throughout the months which have
announced. on Feb; Z. 1915. its sub
marine policy. now happily abandoned.
has Beee eonsta1tly he euIdsd ana tares re
It's patient efforts to bring to an ami
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
ment's declaration Of its abandonment
menaced the good relations between
the two countries, the government OF
Utsa % rely pSr tba
now altered policy Of the imperial gov,
eminent such as will remove the prin-
good relations existing between the
The government of the United
It s takes sit It for granted granted that the i'm.
perial German government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
any way contingent upon the course
of diplomatic negotiations between the
government Of the United States ',an an, and
withstanding the fact that certain pas
ages of the Imperial governments note
Susceptible Of that eonstruetion.
possible Neutrality-suspicious.. the gov
the imperial government that it can
not for moment entertain. much less
discuss. q suggestion that respect by
rights of citizens of the United states
upon the high seas should In any way
ans upan the ssnasct of ans
Of neutrais and noncombatants. Re-
nSo"sy no9 joint; Absolute M % not relative"
after the note was on its way to Bsr-
srh. srs.t.r par. of the German
this government cannot discuss with
questions of right which can be dis
| cussed with that government are
those arising out of It's action or out
| of 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.
''The essence of tho answer 10 that
Germany Yields to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
ships and noncombatants on the high
seas and engages to observe the REQ
| ognized rules OF International law
governing naval warfare in using her G
submarines against merchant mt ships; aE..-sS So
long as she lives up to this aitesea
| rel with her on that score. though tha
| losses resulting from the violation OF
| American rights by German submarine
| commanders operating under the form
| er policy will have to be settled.
while our differences with Great
| Britain cannot form a subject OF dis
cussion with Germany. 1t should be
stated that in our dealings with tho
British government we are acting as
we are unquestionably bound to act In
view of the explicit treaty engage
ments with that government we
have treaty obligations a. 70 the nen-
tween the two governments are to be
| handled.
1--WE offered to assume mutually
similar obligations with Germany, but
| the offer was declined. When. now
ever, the subject in dispute is con-
tinuing menace to American lives IL ie
| doubtful whether such Obligations ap-
ply unless the menace Is removed our,
| ing the pendency of the proceedings.