Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-08
GERMAN STAND
ON ARMED SHIPS
Is EXPLAINED
Will Operate U-BoatS in Ac-
cordance With Law if Eng
land Also Observes 1t
BRING UP BLOCKADE
Berlin Confident That United
States Will Appreciate Teu-
tonic Viewpoint

Washington. March s. - The Ger
man Government, in a memorandum
handed to-day by Count Won Bern
storff to Secretary Lansing. outlines
in detail it's position in regard to
armed ships, reviews events leading
up to its decision to torpedo without
warning all armed merchantmen of
its enemies, comedies that interna-
tional law, as at present constituted,
makes no provisions for the use of
submarines and expresses a willing
ness to operate its submarines in ac-
cordance with international law pre-
vailing prior TO the war on the con-
dition that Great Britain does not
violate the same laws.
The memorandum in part is as fol-
lows:
THE principle of the United States
Government not to keep their citizens
off belligerent merchant ships, has
been used by Great Britain and her
allies to arm merchantships for Of
fensive purposes. Under these cir
cumstances merchantmen can easily
utSllO ON SuDDldlllleS anu IL liltlI dlldIh
fails still consider themselves in safety
by the presence of American citizens
on board.
The order TO use arms on British
merchantmen was supplemented by
instructions to the masters of such
ships to hoist false flags and to ram
L boats. Reports on payment OF
premiums and bestowals of decora-
tionS to successful masters of mer-
chantmen show the effect of these
orders. Englands allies have adopted
this position.
Faces Blockade
Now Germany is facing the follow
ing facts:
"(A) A blockade contrary to inter-
national law Compare american note
to England of November 8, 1870 has
for one year been keeping neutral
trade from German ports and is max
ing German exports impossible.
"(B) For eighteen months through
the extending of contraband provi-
sions in violation of international Law
compare American note to England
of November 8, 1870 the overseas
trade of neighboring neutral coun.
tries, so far as Germany is concerned
has been hampered.
Interception of Mails
"CC) The interception of mails il
violation of international law (com-
pare American memorandum to Eng.
land of January 10, 1870 is meant tC
stop any intercourse of Germany with
| foreign countries.
"(D) England by Systematically
and increasingly depressing neutral
countries, following the principle o
might before right has prevented
neutral trade on land with Germany
so as to complete the blockade of the
| Central Powers intended to starvt
their civil population.
Armed Ships
"(E) Germans met by our enemies
on the high seas are deprived of theil
| liberty no matter whether they art
combatant or noncombatant.
"(FC Our enemies have armed theil
merchant vessels for offensive pur
poses theoretically making il impos
sible to use our u boats according tC
the principles set forth in the Londor
Declaration Compare A m a /
memorandum of February s, 1870.
The English white book of January
! 5, 1916, on the restriction of German
trade boats that by British measure:
Germany's export trade has been stop.
! ped almost entirely whilst her i'm
ports are subject to England's win.
The Imperial Goyernment feel:
confident that the" people of the
United States remembering the
friendly relations that for the last
| hundred years have existed between
the two nations, will In spite of the
| difficulties put into the way by oul
enemies appreciate the German view.
point as laid down above"