The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-05-09
An Inadequate Reply

~ ERMRNY caught with the goods" in the
~ case of the French Channel steamer Sussex
and her official denals Of responsibility dsproved
replies to the demands OF the United States that
she forthwith abandon her submarine campaign
against merchant ships by repeating practically
the same pledges Of future good conduct as fol
bowed every other exchange Of notes between
Washington and Berlin -a%, ....
fhe President; f2April 1o, declared tlatit had
k,fsn proven that submarine campaign against
Lfbnrthant shipping cannot be carried on "in &C
Ecordance with what the United States must CON
slider the sacred and ndisputable rules of inter
national law and the universally recognized die
Etates Of humanity" In view of this demonstrated
fact, the President said: r., $50
."Uniess the Imperial German government shall
now Immediately declare and effect an abandon
ment of its present methods of warfare against
passenger and freight carrying vessels, this gov
eminent can have choice but to sever diplo-
matte relations with the German Empire alto
gether,' ~ IL
That further assurances of more humane con-
duct the part of the submarine commanders
would not answer the purpose, the President made
plain in his note of demand. Again and again
the Imperial government has given its solemn as
surances to the government of the United States
that at least passenger ships would not be thus
uSdH Will NutHleSSly ueStIOyeu) ana IL mas re-
peatedly permitted its undersea commanders to
disregard these assurances with entire impunity,'
he declared.
Yesterday Germany repeated the very assur-
ances which President Wilson specifically an
nounced have been repeatedly disregarded. Ger
many refuses fatty to abandon its submarine
campaign the United States fatty demanded
she should. Again the technical violations of the
law OF blockade, affecting property rights only,
are presented as contrary issue and as just-
hcation for the manifestly illegal killing of non
belligerents and OF neutrals.
But neurals cannot expect that Germany, forced to
fight for her existence shall forsake, the neutrals
restrict, the Of her effective weapon il meantme
the enemy is permitted to continue to violate inter
national law,' says the Berlin reply, continuing:
Accordingly, Germany is confident that in
queAee of the orders naval officers the United
states will also consider all mpediments removed
toward restoration of the freedom of the Ger.
entertans doubt that the United States will
insist that Great Britain forthwith observe the
rules Of international law.
Should steps taken by the United States oh
tain the desired object of forcing modification Of the
British program, have the laws of humanity fol.
lowed by the beigerents, Germany will then he
facing new situation and must to herself
complete liberty of decision.
Dispatches yesterday from Washington state
that the United States will probably accept this
reply satisfactory but there is official an
nuunCement to that effect
Nor is there likely to be
Unless President Wilson is the worlds cham
pon -four husher" he will refuse to accept the
German reply as in any way adequate to- the
situation and will take steps within the forty
eight hours formally to break off diplomatic re-
latons with the German government.