The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-05-10
Abandonment OF
SUBMARINE CODE
accepted BY Wilson Kaiser Informed
He Cannot Dictate Policy To-
Ward Great Britain.

Washington, May s--A note cabled
by Secretary Lansing to Ambassador
Gerard today for delivery to the Ber-
lin foreign office informs the German
government that the United States ac-
cepts its declaration of its abandon
ment" of its former submarine policy,
and now relies upon a scrupulous exc
cution of the altered policy to remove
the principal danger of an Interrupt
ton of the good relations existing be-
ween the two countries.
With this acceptance is coupled for
NAL notice TO Germany that the Uni
ted States cannot for moment enter
tain, much less discuss, a suggestion
that respect by German naval author
tiles for the rights Of citizens of the
United States on the high seas should
in the slightest degree he made con-
tingent upon the conduct of any other
government affecting the rights of
neutrals and non-combatants. This is
In reply to the concluding statement
in the. last German note, to the effect
that while submarine commanders had
been ordered to sink no peaceful
freight or passenger carrying ships
without warning or without safety for
passengers and crew, the German gov
ornment would serve to itself COM
plete liberty of decision unless the
United States was successful in its
efforts to break the British blockade.
Secretary Lansing issued state
ment tonight saying that the greater
part OF Germany's answer to the de-
mand Of the United Safes was devo-
ted to matters which the American
government could not discuss with the
Berlin Government, but he considered
Germany had yielded to our repre-
sensations" and that we can have no
reason to quarrel with her." so long
as the altered policy Is lived up to.
Mr.. Lansing's statement made pub
lie after the note was on it's way to
Berlin, follows
The greater part of the German
answer is devoted to matters which
this government cannot discuss with
the German government. The only
questions of right which can be dis
cussed with the government are those
arising out of its action or out of our
own. and in no event those questions
which are the subject OF diplomatic
exchanges between the United States
and any other country.
The essence of the answer is hat
Germany yields to our representa-
tons with regard to the rights of mer-
chain ships and non-combatants on
the high seas and engages to observe
the recognized rules of international
law governing naval warfare in using
her submarines against merchant
ships. So long as she lived up to this
altered policy, we can have no rea-
son to quarrel with her on that score,
though the losses resulting from the
violation of American rights by Ger
man submarine commanders operat-
ing under the former policy will have
to be settled.
while our difference with Great
Britain cannot form a subject of dis
cussion with Germany it should be
stated that in our dealings with the
British government We are acting, as
we are unquestionably bound to act
in view of the explicit treaty engage
ments with that government. We have
treaty obligations as to the manner in
which matters in dispute between the
two governments are to be handled
We offered to assume mutually similar
obligations with Germany. but the Of
fer was declined. When the subject
In dispute is a continuing menace to
AemirCau lives it is doubtful whether
such obligations apply unless the men
ace is removed during the pendency
of the proceedings"