The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-06
No Break With Germany In sight.

II the ofhcial text of the German
reply comedies with the unofficial
version received yesterday. the Adj
ninistration AID the country will be
warranted in regarding that reply rs
q promise OF compliance with the
dnal American demand made fifteen
days earlier. as follows:
"Unisss the Imperial Government
should now Immediately declare and ef-
feet an abandonment OF Its present meth
eds Of submarine warfare against pas
ssnser and freight carrying vessels. the
Government Of the United States can
have no choice but to sever diplomatic
relations with the German Empire AL
together"
That was an %ultimutum. so far MS
the continuance Of diplomatic reln.
lions is concerned. The compliance
In the version we have Of DR.. voN
JAGow's note is direct and complete
as to the declaration demanded:
THE German Government .
notifies the Government of the United
States that German naval forces have
received the following order:
"'ln accordance with the general prin-
eiples OF visit and search and the de-
struction OF merchant vessels recognized
BY international law. such vessels. both
naval war zone. shall not be sunk with
out warning and without saving human
Lives. unless the ship attempt 10 escape
or offer res stance"
This is plainl! II declaration If the
abandonment of the present methods
Of German submarine warfare. The
order to the submarine commanders
has been issued. Until 1t il repealed
or superseded. ar unless IL should hs
fagrnntly and wilfnlly and systemat.
ically violated with the co%nnivunce
OF the superior authority, it defines
the new submarine policy Of the I'm.
perial Government. In its text ms IL
stands there il 10 evasion or Uunli.
hcation. no limitation geographical
or technical, M departure from the
specific acceptance Of our own under.
standing Of what international law
requires in the case. II is only by the
sequel Of conduct that Germany can
comply with our further demand that
the declaration of abandonment shall
have full effect in future warfare.
1t Is both unnecessary and useless
TO seek in the phrnSing of the order
printed aho," any reason for tho
requisition of further assurances at
this time. 1t would he folly in II de
gree scarcely comprehensive to whet
to n sharp edge Il new issue on the
contingencies and possibilities Of a
state of affairs which is not now eX.
istent. The order to the naval forces
has gone forth as we demanded. The
German Government has made itself
responsible to the fullest extent for
accidental or intentional violations OF
that order by its submarine com.
manders. The Imperial Government
does not make its declaration and
order for the abandonment of illegal
methods conditional upon anything
that we may do in the way Of press.
ing a cast against Great Britain for
q different sort Of i%nfraction of inter.
national law n less ntror.ous inya.
sion of neutral rights on the high
seas. The Won .Iagow note announces
compliance with our demand, and
then proceeds II express confidence
that the United States will now insist
that England shall also and forthwith
observe the rules universally recog.
nized before the war.
The note also reserves ~"complcte
liberty of decision in ease the steps
already taken by our Government Ia
secure these rights, aud such further
steps rs Washington may take, should
not lead to the desired result. tn,
liberty of revocation of the order
Just issued is something which We
cannUt take away from GERMANY. II
Is inherent in her sovereign bower
Just rs II WIS within her power Ia
inauguratc the Illegal practices which
she promises to abandon. The RICH,
In resume submarine frigatfulne.s |.
asserted but not threatened. The re