The commonwealth., 1916-05-09

"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 co-operated
in developing international law in con
formity with these principles, the ulti-
mate object OF which has always been
to .confine warfare on sea and land to
armed forces of belligerents and safe
guard as far as possible non-combatants
against the horrors of war. But, al
| though these considerations are of
greater weight, they alone would not,
under present circumstances, have de-
termined the attitude of the German
government. For in answer to the ap-
peal by the government Of the United
States on behalf of the sacred princi-
pies of humanity and international law
the German government must repeat
once more with all emphasis, that is
was not the German, but the British
government which ignored all accept
ed rules of international law and ex-
! tended this terrible war to the lives
and property of noncombatants, hav-
ing no regard whatever for the inter
ests and rights Of neutrals and non
combatants that through this method
of warfare have been severely injur-
ed
"In self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, while
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
Victims of British Policy.
GAS 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 un-
happy victims of submarine warfare
are not extended with the same warmth
of feeling to many millions of women
| and children who, according to the
avowed intention of the British gov
| ernment, shall be starved, and who
| by suff fferings, shall force the victorious
armies Of the central powers into igno-
minious capitulations. The German
government, in agreement with the
| II 10 OF
discrimination. All the more as it has
repeatedly and explicitly declared it
self ready to use the submarine wea
pom in strict conformity with the rules
fore 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 to
act accordingly failed because of flat
refusal on the part Of the British gov
ernment. Moreover, Great Britain,
again and again, has violated interna-
tional law, surprising all bounds in
! outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain, de-
claring German bunker coal contra
brand and esta ablishing conditions under
which English bunker coal alone is
supplied to neutrals is nothing but an
unheard-of attempt by way of exacting
to force neutral tonnage into the SER
vice of the British trade.
Sentiment of Germany.
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
tenance of international law. The gov
ernment of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this
end had it been determined to insist,
against Great Britain, on the incon-
trovertible rights to freedom of the
seas. But as matters stand the Ger
man people are under the impression
that the government of the United
States while demanding that Germa-
ny struggling for existence shall re-
strain the use of an effective weap
on and while making compliance with
these demands a condition for main
tenance Of relations with Germany,
confines itself to protests against il
legal methods adopted by Germany IS
enemies. Moreover, the German peo-
pie know to what considerable ex
tents its enemies are supplied with
all kinds Of war material from the
United States.
cit will, therefore, be understood
that the appeal made by the gov
| ernment of the United States to senti
ments of humanity and principles of
| international law cannot under the
circumstances meet the same hearty
response from the German people
which such an appeal otherwise al
ways is certain to find here. If the
German government nevertheless is
resolved to go to the utmost limit of
concessions it has been guided not
alone by the friendship connecting the
two great nations for over one hundred
wears b1t also hv tho thoupht Of Tho