The Washington times., 1916-05-05
Continued From First Page.

uOuDt tnut tncbe orueTb Wcfe kiNcu
and are executed In good faith.
Errors actually occurred. They can
In no kind OF warfare be avoided
altogether. and allowances must be
made in the conduct of naval war
fare against an enemy resorting to
al al kind Cir ,,,, q ruses. whether per"i''i-
But apart from the possibility Of
errors. naval warfare, Just like land
warfare. implies unavoidable dan
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the lighting zone: Even In
eases e where naval action " confined
fare. neutral persons and goods re-
pcatedly come to grief.
The German government has re-
peotedly and explicitly pointed out
the dangers from mines. as they
have led to the loss Of numerous
made several proposals to the Gov
crnment OF the United states In
order to reduce to the minimum for
American travellers and goods the In
herent dangers OF naval warfare.
Unfortunately. the Government OF
the United states decided not TO ac-
ccpt the proposals.
Had II accepted, the Government OF
the United States would have beens
Instrumental In preventing the
greater part OF the. accidents that
American citizens have met with
ncantime; The German government
an agreement along these lines.
As the German government has re-
reatedly declared, Il cannot dispense
with the use OF submarines as a
weapon In the conduct OF warfare
against enemy trade. The German
government. however, has now de-
ciled to make further concession,
adapting the methods OF submarine
warfare to the interests OF neutrals.
Considerations Above
Level Of the Question.
In reaching this decision the Ger
man government Is actnatcd by con-
alterations which are above the
level Of the disputed question.
The German government attaches
no less importance to tho sacred
principles Of humanity than the
Government OF the United States.
that both governments for many
years have co-operated In developing
the international law in conformity
with these principles. the ultimate
object Of which has always been TO
confine warfare on sea and land TO
the armed forces Of the bellircrenta.
and to safeguard as far as possible
ncncombatants against the horrors
OF war.
But although the considerations
are Of great weight. they alone
would not under the present circum-
stances have determined the atti-
tude OF the German government.
In answer to the appeal by the
Government OF the United States on
A.A - l.l~
humanity and interna tional law. the
German government must repeat
once more with all emphasis that II
was not the German government,
but the British government. which,
by ignoring all the accepted rules of
international law, extended this ter
rible war 20 the lives and property
of noncombatants, having no regard
whatever for the interests and rights
of neutrals and noncombatants.
which through this method CT war
fare have been severely injured.
In self-defense the Illegal conduct
of British warfare. while fighting a
bitter struggle for national exist
ence. Germany had to resort to the
hard but effective weapon of subma-
rinc warfare.
Asks Sympathy for Own
Women and Children.
As matters stand, the German gov
eminent cannot but reiterate its re-
gret that the sentiments Of humanity
which the Government of the United
States extends with such fervor to
the unhappy victims OF submarine
warfare. were not extended with the
same warmth of feeling TO the many
millions of women and children who.
according to the avowed intention OF
the British government. shall be
starved. and who. by their sufferings.
shall force the victorious armies of
the central powers into ignominious
capitulation.
The German government, In agree
mont with the German people. fails
to understand this discrimination. all
the moro as II has repeatedly and ex-
piicitly declared itself ready to use
the submarine weapon in strict con-
formity with the rules OF information
al law as recognized before the out
break of the war. IL Great Britain
likewise would adapt her conduct of
warfare to these rules.
Several attempts made by the Gov
eminent OF the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government 10
act accordingly. failed because OF the
nat refusal on the part OF the Brit
ish government.
nOTeONeT, oTtdt bTltdin ever binCc
has again and again violated inter-
national law. surprising all bounds
and outraging neutral rights.
Says Britain Is Trying. .
To Force Neutral Service.
Tho latest measure adopted by
Great Britain declaring German
bunker coal contraband and estab-
fishing conditions under which Eng
lish bunker coal alone can be sup
piled to neutrals, Is nothing but an
unheard-of attempt by way Of ex-
action to force neutral tonnage into
service and trade in war.
The German people know that the
Government OF the United States has
the rover to confine the war to
the armed forces of the belligerent
countries in the interest of humanity
and the maintenance of international
law.
The Government of the United