Evening journal., 1916-05-05

BERLIN. May 5.-The text OF the
German reply TO President Wilson's
summarizing demands as transmitter
to Ambassador Gerard last night by
Foreign Secretary Won Jagow follows:
"fho undersigned, on behalf of the
Imperial German Government. has the
honor TO present TO His Excelloncy.
the Ambassador of the United States,
Mr.. James w. Gerard, the following
reply to the note Of April 20. regard
ing the conduct OF German submarine
warfare.
"lhe German government handed
over to the proper naval authorities
for further Investigation evidence
concerning the Sussex as communi-
Gated by the government OF the
United States. Judging by the re-
suits the Investigation hitherto yield
3D. the German government is alive
10 the possibility that the ship men
toned in the note Of April 10 as tor
pedoed by a German submarine Is ac-
'ually identical with the Sussex.
The German government begs to
reserve further communications on
the matter until certain points are
escertained which are Of decisive inn
poriance for establishing the facts
OF the case. Should il turn out that
The commander was wrong i'm assum-
lng the vessel to be man Of war. the
German government will not fail to
draw the consequences resulting
iherefrom.
In connection with the case of
INC Sussex, the Government Of the
United States made a series Of state
ments. the gist Of which is the asser-
lion that the incident is to be con-
sidered but one instance for levi
IDENTIFY should read or a deliberate
method OF indiscriminate destruction
n vessels Of al sorts. nationalties
and destinations by German subma.
rine commanders. The German Gov.
6rnment must emphatically repudi-
nte the assertion. The German Gov.
ernment however. thinks II of little
avail to enter into the details in the
present stage'of affairs more particu.
larly as the Government of the United
States omitted to substantiate the as.
sertion by reference TO concret,
facts The German Government viii
only state that il has imposed far
reaching restraints upon the use O
The submarine weapon solely in con.
sidCratiOn of neutrals' interests in
spito OF the fact that these restric
lions necessarily were OF advantag,
10 Germany's enemies. No such con
siteration has ever been shown neu
trails by Great Britain and her allies
German submarine forces have
had. in fact orders to conduct sub
marine warfare in accordance will
the general principles Of visit, searcl
and destruction Of merchant vessel
recognized by international law, thl
sole exception being the conduct o
warfare against enemy trade carriel
on IN enemy freight ships encounterer
in the war zones surrounding Grea
Britain. With regard to these, M
assurances ever have been given Il
the government of the United States
No such assurance was contained il
the declaration Of February s. 1916.
THE German government canno
admit any doubt that these order
were given and are executed in goo
faith. Errors actually occurred. The
can IN no kind of warfare be avoide
altogether, and allowances must b
made IN the conduct OF naval warfar
against an enemy resOrting to al
kinds Of ruses, whether permissibl
or Illicit. But apart from the pos
sibility OF errors. naval warfare. jus
like land warfare. implies unavoid
able dangers for neutral persons an
goods entering the fighting zone Eve
In cases where naval action is cor
fined to ordinary forms Of cruise
warfare neutral persons and goods re
peatedly come to grief The Germa
government has repeatedly and @,
plicitly pointed out the dangers froi
mines as they have led to the loss {
numerous ships. The German gov
ernment made several proposals I
the government Of the United State
in order 10 reduce TO the minimum
for American travellers and goods th
inherent dangers OF naval warfar
Unfortunately. the government OF th
United States decided not to accer
the proposals. Had il accepted IN
government Of the United State
would have been instrumental I'm pr,
venting the greater parts of the acc
dents that American citizens have m,
with meantime. The German govern
ment still stands by its offer to con
10 an agreement along these lines.
"As the German government has r
peatedly declared. Il cannot dispen,
with the use OF submarines as
weapon In the conduct OF warfa
against enemy trade The Germs
government. however. has now decid,
to make further concession, adaptir
the methods Of submarine warfare
the interests OF neutrals. In reachir
this decision the German governme
Is actuated by considerations whi,
are above the level Of the disput,
question.
The German government attach
no less importance to the sacred pri
ciples Of humanity than the cover
ment OF the United States. Il aga
fully takes into account that bo
governments for many years have C
operated in developing the intern
ional law In conformity with the
principles, the ultimate object
which has always been to confine wa
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