The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-05-11
TEXT OF KAISER'S REPLY TO
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
FINAL NOTE
submarine Commanders to be Given Further Instruction
Makes Concessions and Voices
Complaint.

In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
siderations which are above the level
of the disputed question.
The German government attaches
no less Importance to the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment OF the United States. 1t again
fully takes into account that both
governments for many years cooper
ated in developing international law In
conformity with these principles the
ultimate object of which has always
been to confine warfare on sea and
land to armed forces of belligerents
and safeguard as far as possible nom
combatantS against the horrors of
war. But although these considera-
tions are of great weight, they alone
would not under present circumstances
have determined the attitude of the
German government. For, in answer
to the appeal Of the government OF
the United States on behalf of the
sacred principles of humanity and in
tenational law, the German govern
ment must repeat once more, with all
emphasis, that it was not the Ger
man but the British government which
ignored all accepted rules of inter-
national law and extended this ter
rible war to the lives and property of
non-combatants, having no regard
whatever for the interests and rights
of neutrals and non-combatants that
through this method of warfare have
been severely injured.
I'm self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare while
fighting bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
"As matters stand, the German gov
ernment cannot but reiterate regret
that the sentiments of humanity
which the government of the United
States extends with such fervor to
the unhappy victims of submarine
warfare are not extended with the
same warmth of feeling to many mil
: lions of women and children who, ac-
cording to the avowed intention of the
British government, shall be starved
and who, by snfferings, shall force the
victorious armies of the central pow.
ers into ignominious capitulation. The
German government, in agreement
with the German people, fails to un.
derstand this discrimination, all the
more as it has repeatedly and explic.
lily declared itself ready to use the
submarine weapon in strict conform
ity with the rules of international law
as recognized before the outbreak OF
the war, if Great Britain likewise was
ready to adapt the conduct of warfare
to these rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment Of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government tC
act accordingly failed because of fiat
refusal on the part Of the British
government. Moreover, Great Britain
again and again has violated interna
tional law surprising all bounds il
outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain de
claring German bunker coal contra
band and establishing conditions un
der which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neutrals, is nothing but
an unheard of attempt by way of ex
action to force neutral tonnage into
the service of the British trade war.
THE German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to arm
ed forces of the belligerent countries
in the interest of humanity and main
t9nance of international law. The
government of the United States
would have been certain of attaining
this end had it been determined to in
| .,sk sk..aR hn fv,
controvertible rights to freedom OF thu
seas. But as matters stand the Ger
man people are under the impression
that the government of the Unitet
States, while demanding that Ger
many, struggling for existence, shal
restrain the use of an effective weapon
and while making compliance witt
these demands a condition for main
tenance of relations with Germany
confines itself to protests against ii
legal methods adopted by which Ger
manys enemies are supplied with al
kinds of war material from the Unit
ed States.
at will therefore be understood tina
the appeal made by the government
of the United States to sentiments o
humanity and principles of interna
tional law cannot under the circum
stances meet the same hearty respons
from the German people which sucl
an appeal otherwise always is certain
to find here. If the German govern
lment nevertheless is resolved to go b
the utmost limit of concessions it ha
been guided not alone by the friend
ship connecting the two great nation
for over 100 years, but also by tn
thought of the great doom whicl
threatens the entire civilized worl'
should the cruel and sanguinary wa
be extended and prolonged
"The German government, consciou
Iof Germany's strength, twice withil