Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-05-19
TO BERLIN NOTE
OBSERVANCE or NEW ORDERS
TO PREVENT SEVERANCE.
Germany Told Safety Of American
Lives Cannot BE Made Conditional
on Way England %PrOseeutes War.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington-Following is the text
OF the note cabled by Secretary Lam.
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver It to the
German minister Of foreign affairs:
The note of the imperial German
government under date OF May 4, 1915,
has received careful consideration by
the government of the United States.
IL Is especially noted as indicating the
purpose OF the imperial government as
do its utmost to confino the operation
OF the war for the rest Of its duration
to the fighting forces OF the belliger-
ents, and that II Is determined to inn
pose upon all Its commanders at sea
h limitations OF the recognized rules
OF international law, Upon which the
government Of the United States has
Throughout the months which have
elapsed SINCE the imperial government
announced. on Feb. 4. 1915, its sub
the government of the United states
mas been constantly guided and re-
strained by motives of friendship in
Its patient efforts to bring 20 an ami
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
Accepting the imperial govern
ment'B declaration of It's abandonment
of the policy which has so seriously
80 6R11 O1NHN WI
the two countries, the government OF
the United States will rely upon a
scrupulous execution hencefOrth Of the
now altered policy OF the imperial gov
m such as will remove the prin-
cipal danger to an Interruption of the
good relations existing between the
United States and Germany.
THE government of the United
States feels II necessary to state that
II takes It for granted that the Inn
perial German government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy is in
any way contingent upon the course
of diplomatic negotiations between the
government of the United States and
any other belliger6nt government, not
withdrawing the fact that certain pas
Rges of the imperial governments note
of the 4th inst, might appear to be
susceptible of that construction.
In order, however, to avoid any
possible Misunderstanding. the gov
eminent of the United States notifies
the imperial government that It can
not for a entertain, much less
the German naval authorities for the
rights of citizens of the United States
upon the high seas should In any way
or In the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct Of any
other. government affecting the rights
of neutrals and no~ncombatants. Re-
sponsibIiity In such matters Is single
not joint; absolute, not relative"
Mr.. L~ansing's statement made public
after the note was on its way to Ber-
lin, follows:
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 that government are
those arising out of its action or out
0f our own and In no event those ques-
lions which are the subject of diplo-
matte exchanges between the United
States and any other country.
THE essence OF the answer Is that
Germany yields to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
seas. and engages to observe the rec
ognized rules OF international law
governing naval warfare in using her
submarines against merchant ships. SO
policy we can have no reason to quar-
rel with her on that score. though the
losses resulting from the violation of
American rights by German submarine
commanders operating under the form
er policy will rave to be settled.
while our differences with Great
Britain cannot form a subject of dis
cussion with Germany, II 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 "a
have treaty obligations as to the man
ner In which matters In dispute oe-
tween the two governments are to be
handled.
ave offered to assume mutually
similar obligations with Germany bu
the offer was declined. When, how
ever, the subject in dispute Is a con
%tinuing menace to American lives 1t Is
doubtful whether such obligations APP
ply unless the menace Is removed dur
ing the tendency of the proceedings"