The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-09
GERMAN DECLARA-
TION OF SUBMARINE
PLAN is ACCEPTED
But United States Notifies Berlin Gov.
ernment That 1t Cannot Entertain
Condition That Policy Depends
On Attitude of the United
States to Other Bellig-
erents.

] Washington, ID. c., May 9.-The note
cabled by Secretary Lansing to Ambas.
sador Gerard yesterday for delivery to
the Berlin foreign Office informs the
German government that the United
States accepts its declaration of its
abandonment" of its former submarine
/ policy and now relies upon scrupulous
execution of the altered policy to re-
move the principal danger OF an Interrupt
tion of the good relations existing be-
tween the two countries
With this acceptance is coupled for
nal notice to Germany that the United
States cannot for a moment entertain,
much less discuss, a suggestion that re-
spect by German naval authorities for
the rights of citizens of the United
States on the high seas should in the
slightest degree be made contingent
upon the conduct of any other govern
ment affecting the rights of neutrals
and n-combatants. This is in reply
to the concluding statement in the last
German note, to the effect that while
submarine commanders had been or.
dered to sink no peaceful freight or pas
senger carrying ships without warning
or without safety for passengers and
crew, the German government would re-
serve to itself complete liberty of de-
cision unless the United States was
successful in its efforts to break the
British blockade.
Secretary Lansing issued statement
last night saying that the greater part
of Germany's answer to the demand of
the United States was devoted to mat
ters which the American government
could not discuss with the Berlin govern
ment. but he considered Germany had
yielded to our representation" and that |
we ''can have no reason to quarrel with |
her. so long as the altered policy is
lived up to.
The text OF the note to Germany fol-
lows:
Text of Note.
'The note of the imperial German gov |
ernment under date of May 4, 1915, has |
received careful consideration by the |
government of the United States. II /
is especially noted, as indicating the
purpose of the imperial government as to
the future, that it "is prepared to do
its utmost to confne the operation of
the war for the rest of its duration to
the fighting forces af the belligerents"
andn that it is determined to impose
upon all its commanders at sea the lini-
tations of the recognized rules of inter
national law upon which the government
IF the United States has insisted.
Throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government an
lounced on February (, 1916. its subma-
inc policy, now happily abandoned, the
government of the United States has
peen constantly guided and restrained
" motives Of friendship in its patient
.forts TO bring to an smicable settle
nent the critical question arising from ,
hat policy. Accepting the imperial
governments declaration Of its abandon
nent of the policy which has 80 seriously
the good relations between the
wo countries, the government of the
lnited States will rely upon a serup-
Ilous execution henceforth Of the now
Uttered policy Of the imperial govern
nent such as will remove the principal .
anger to an interruption Of the good
elations existing between the United
'tates and Germany.
The government OF the United States
eels it necessary to state that il takes
for granted that the imperial German !;
overnment docs not intend to implv )
hat the maintenance Of its newly an :
ounced policy j. in any way contingent :
p0n the course of result Of diplomatic a
elations between the government of 4
he United States and any other beIlig-
rent, notwithstanding the fact that GER
ain passages in the imerial govern n
.ent's note Of the fourth instant might lci
ppear to be susceptible of that con b
.ruction. Tn order. however, o. avoid 81
~ possible misunderstanding the gov q
-ument Of the United State nofihe- al
ie imperial government that it cannot q
r moment entertain. much less DIS n
-, . suggestion that respect By Ger n