The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-12
BREAK WITH GERMANY
AVERTED FOR THE TIME
Germany Makes Concession--ln Ac-
cepintg 1t President Resents Sug-
sestions as to Attitude of US.
Toward Other Nations

Germany's reply to the last Ameri-
can note on the submarine warfare,
as conducted by that government, has
been received. The reply comedies
in a measure the demands OF the
American note, but INDUCES in some
reservations and a suggestion that
this government make certain de-
mands of the British government;
but of course the President cannot
and will not allow Germany or any
other power to dictate the policy OF
this Government in dealing with ques-
tons arising between it and another
nation. The following, it will be re-
membered, is the demand made by the
United States of Germany;
"If it is the purpose of the I'm
perial Government to prosecute
relentless and indiscriminate war
fare against vessels Of commerce
by the use of submarines with
out regard to what the govern
ment of the United States must
consider the sacred and indispu-
table rules of international law
the universally recognized die
tates of humanity, the Govern
ment of the United States is at
last forced to the conclusion that
there is but one course it can pur-
sue.
"Unless the Imperial Govern
ment should now Immediately de-
clare and effect an abandonment
of its present methods of subma-
rine warfare against passenger
,,I snrht tn
Government of the United States
can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with The
German Empire altogether.
"This action the Government Of
the United States contemplates
with the greatest reluctance, but
feels constrained to take in be-
half of humanity and the rights
of neutral nations"
Germany's reply was lengthy, but
the following closing paragraphs con-
tain the meat and essence of the note:
German naval forces have re-
ceived the following order:
"In accordance with the gen.
eral principles of visit and search
and the destruction of merchant
vessels recognized by internation-
al law, such vessels, both with
in and without the area declared
naval war zone, shall not be
sunk without warning and with
out saving human lives unless the
ship attempts to escape or of
fers resistance"
But neutrals cannot expect
that Germany, forced to fight
for existence, shall for the sake
of neutral interests restrict the
use of an effective weapon if the
enemy is permitted to continue
to apply at will methods of war
fare violating rules Of interna-
tional law, Such demand
would be incompatible with the
character of neutrality, and the
German Government Is convinced
that the Government Of the
United States does not think of
making such demand, knowing
that the Government of the
United States repeatedly declares
that it is determined to restore
the principle of freedom of the
seas, from whatever quarter it
has been violated.
Accordingly, the German Gov
eminent is confident that, in con-
sequence of the new orders is
sued to the naval forces, the
Government of the United States
will also now consider all i1nped-
iments removed which may have
been in the way of mutual coop
Grafton toward restoration of the
freedom of the seas during The
war, as suggested in the note of
July %, 1915, and it does not
doubt that the Government OF the
United States will now demand
and insist that the British Gov