South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-05
TEXT OF GERMAN
REPLY TO u. S. NOTE
ON SUBMARINE WAR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONED
German government must repeat
once more with all the emphasis at
its command that il was not the
German. but the British government.
which. ignoring all the accepted
rules Of international law, extended
this terrible war TO the lives and
property Of non-combatants, having
no regard whatever for the interests
and rights OF neutrals and non-com-
batants that, through this method Of
warfare have been severely injured.
In self defense against the illegal
conduct Of warfare By the British.
and while fighting a bitter struggle
for her very national existence. Ger
many has had 10 resort 10 the hard,
but effective weapon of submarine
warfare
AS matters stand the German
government cannot but reiterate that
the sentiments of humanity which
the government Of the United States
with such fervor 10 unhappy victims
of submarine warfare are not ex-
tended with the same warmth Of
feeling TO many millions Of women
and children. who, according TO the
avowed intention Of the British gov
eminent, shall be starved and who.
by suffering. shall force the victor
ious armies of the central powers
into ignominOus capitulatiOn.
Makes Compliance Conditional.
"The German government in
agreement with the German peo-
pie fails TO understand this
discrimination. all the more as this
government has explicitly declared
itself ready to use the submarine in
strict conformity with the rules of
international law as recognized be-
fore the outbreak Of the war, if
Great Britain will likewise adapt her
conduct Of the war TO these rules.
Several attempts made by the
government Of the United States TO
prevail upon the British government
to act accordingly Gin accordance
with the principles OF international
law failed, because Of the fat re-
fusal on the part of England.
Points to Britaim's Act.
Moreover Great Britain ever
si~.ce the beginning Of the war again
and again violated international law,
surprising all bounds in outraging
neutral rights. The latest measure
adopted by Great Britain in declar-
ing German bunker coal contraband
and establishing conditions under
which only English bunker coal can
be supplied TO neutrals is nothing but
an unheard of attempt, by way of
the eXactiOn of force, 70 compel neu-
trail tonnage to enter the service Of
the British.
The German people know that
the government Of the United States
has no power to cOnfine the war to
armed forces and to belligerent
countries in the interests of human
ity and TO maintain the integrity OF
international law.
The government of the United
States would have been certain in
attaining its end had it been deter
mined to insist (prOtesD against
Great Britain on its incontrOvertible
rights TO the freedom of the seas.
Confined Selves to Protests.
But as matters stand the German
people are under the impression that
the government Of the United States
while demanding that Germany
struggling for existence shall re-
strain the use of its effective weapon,
while making compliance with these
demands COT the United States) for
the maintenance of (amicable) rela-
lions, Germany confined itself 10
protests against illegal methods
adopted by Germany's enemies.
Moreover. the German people
know TO what considerable extent
the enemies COT Germany are sup
Piled with all kinds Of war ma
terials from the United States
1t will therefore be understood
that the appeal made by the govern
ment of the United States TO the SEN
timents Of humanity and the prin-
ciples of international law cannot
meet with the same hearty response
from the German people which such
an appeal would otherwise always
certainly find here
If the German government
ney ertheless resolved TO go TO the ut
most limit of concessions it has not
alone been guided by the friendship