Williston graphic., 1916-05-11
Germany Promises
Compliance With Law
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Compliance With Law
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the incident is to be considered bu
one instance Of a deliberate methot
of indiscriminate destruction Of yes
sells of all sorts, nationalities ant
destinations by German submarin,
commanders.
"The German government mos
emphatically repudiates the asser
tion. The German government, how.
ever, thinks it of little avail to ente,
into details in the present stage Of
affairs, more particularly as the gov.
ernment of the United States omitted
to substantiate the assertion of ref.
erence to concrete facts.
"The German government will only
state that it has imposed far-reach.
ing restraints upon the use of the
submarine weapon, solely in consider
alton of neutrals' interests, in spite
of the fact that these restrictions are
necessarily of advantage to Germanys
enemies. No such consideration has
ever been shown neutrals by Great
Britain and her allies.
| "The German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
submarine warfare in accordance with
the general principles of visit and
search and the destruction Of mer-
chant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, the only exception being
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surround
ing Great Britain. With regard to
these, no assurances have ever been
given to the government of the Uni
ted States. No such assurances are
contained in the declaration of Feb
ruary 8, 1916.
"The German government cannot
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred.
They can in no kind Of warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds Of ruses, whether permissible
or illicit.
"But apart from the possibility of
errors, naval warfare is just like war
fare on land, and implies unavoidable
dangers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even in
cases where the naval action is con-
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser
warfare neutral persons and goods re-
peatedly come to grief.
"The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly pointed out
the dangers of mines that have led
to the loss of numerous ships.
"The German government has made
several proposals to the government
of the United States in order to re-
duce to the minimum for American
travellers and goods the inherent dan
gers of naval warfare. Unfortunately,
the government of the United States
decided not to accept the proposals.
Had it accepted, the government Of
the United States would have been
instrumental in preventing the great
er part of the accidents that Ameri-
can citizens have met with in the
meantime.
"The German government still
stands by it's offer to come to an
agreement along these lines.
"As the German government re-
peatedly declared, it cannot dispense
with the use of the submarine weapon
in the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade. The German govern
ment, however, has now decided to
make further concession in adoption
of methods Of submarine war to the
interests of neutrals. In reaching
this decision, the German government
is actuated by considerations which
are above the level of the disputed
question.
"The German government at
taches no less Importance to the
sacred principles of humanity than
the government of the United
States. It again fully takes into ac-
tion that both governments for many
years co-operated in developing inter-
national law in conformity with these
principles, the ultimate object Of
which has always been to confine war;
fare on sea and land to armed forces
of belligerents and safeguard as far
as possible noncombatants against the
horrors of war. But although these
considerations are of great weight,
they alone would not under the pres
ent circumstances have determined
the attitude of the German govern
menu.
"For in answer to the appeal by the
government of the United States on
behalf of the sacred principles of hu-
manity and international law, the |
German government must repeat |
once more, with all emphasis that it |
was not the German, but the British |
government which ignored all the ac-
cepted rules of international law and |
this terrible war to the lives
and property of non-combatants, hav-
ing no regard whatever for the inter-
ests and rights Of neutrals, and that |
non- -combatants through this method |
Of warfare have been severely in
jured.
"In self defense against the illegal
conduct Of British warfare, while |
fighting bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.