Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-08
Answer to American Note
Seeks to Excuse Sub
marine Policy.
ENGLAND ACCUSED y
OF IGNORING LAWS
Submarine Warfare Undertaken as
Rsprisai Because Of Blockade Of Ger
many in Effort to Starve Civilian
Population - Insists international
Law Does Not Cover Submarine
Qusstiork

man governments in memorandum,
handed today by Count Won Bern
storff, to Secretary Lansing, out
tines in detail its position in regard
# 70 armed ships, reviews events lead
ina to its decision to torpedo with.
q. out warning armed merchantmen,
comedies that International law at
present makes no provision for the
use of submarines, and expresses "
willingness to operate its subma-
rines in accordance with interna-
tional law prevailing prior to the
war on the condition that Great
Britain does not violate the same
eslaws.
VI Washington, March Count Won
Bernstorn, the German ambassador, to-
day at the instruction OF his govern
ment handed to Secretary Lansing
long memorandum explaining in detail
the German position in regard to armed
merchant ships and the causes leading
up to the decision to torpedo without
warning all armed merchantmen of the
enemy. ;s3z s#&..< Es @ r..
Secretary Lansing and Count yon
~>-.
tents. II is understood to contain the
allegation that. Great Britain had taken
advantage of the contention Of the
United States that Americans must be
safe, on defensively- armed merchant
men by having those ships act often
siyelys toward enemy submersibles. :
The German government, 1t Is un-
derst0od, conceded that as submarines
are new engine Of warfare. tnterna-l
tional law makes no provision for their
uacs Il s2 tss tss ,ssss sz5ssf St
81 Tho German Suvernment II under
stood to axpresssA wllltngnessstc oper-
ate ifS submaFineg In nbaccordanee1wi with
law prevailing prior to.
the war, provided Great Britain does
not violate the same laws. s Il ", =
War Of Rsprisai. Il IL: =
!. 1t Is understood the memorandum
contends the evidence appended to the
late German announcement proves that
British ships armed ostensibly for de-
tense have been instructed to act and
have acted, offensively, and that they
are not peaceful traders, as the United
States was assured they would be by
Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the British am
bassador. s.e'l@ - .ss
The memorandum is also understood
to reiterate the previous declarations
that submarine warfare was begun by
Germany in reprisal for the announced
Intention of Great Britain to starve the
civilian population Of the central en-
pires. 8a,sf IS : j.
The memorandum is also understood
to refer to the ong-standing friendship
between the United States and Ger
many and to express the hope that the
American people will, when familiar
with the explanation. fully appreciate
the position in which Germany finds
herself as a result of the blockade.
Says ReprisaIs Are Justified.
=, BY way Of supporting the contention
that Germany's reprisals are justified
the memorandum Is said to enumerate
various actions of Great Britain which
are said to have operated against neu-
trails and their citizens. These are
cited to show that Great Britain has
violated international law.
It Is pointed out that Germany agreed
to abide by certain terms of the dec
laration Of London, but that inasmuch
as Great Britain has not restrained her
actions to conform with the terms Of
the declaration. Germany can not be
expected to agree to operate under a
code which Great Britain disregards.