The Ronan pioneer., 1916-05-12
BRIEF NOT :
To BERLIN

son has put Germany on trial.
In the text of the American reply
to the most recent German note on
subsea warfare the imperial govern
ment is told the United States relies
upon Germany to keep it's promises to
alter the methods OF submarine war
fare.
Scrupulous execution of it's changed
policy, the note says, will remove the
danger Of an interruption of the good
relations existing between Germany
ard the United States.
At the same time the note rejects
the proposal that the United States
regard this abandonment as condition
respect to the blockade.
The note is courteous in tone, but
firm and definite in substance.
1t is intended to remove all doubt
of the imperial government as to the
position the United States has taken.
Secretary Of State Lansing issued
the following statement explaining
why tle ClIJcu 0Ldl6S' CduuOL us
cuss matters pertaining to the rela-
tions between this government and
Great Britain with the imperial gov.
eminent
Lansing Explains Position.
The greater part of the German
answer is devoted to matters which
this government cannot discuss with
the German government.
The only questions of right which
can be discussed with that govern.
ment are those arising out of it's ac.
Ntion or out of our own and in no event
those questions which are the subject
of diplomatic 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
ships and noncombatants on the high
seas and engages to observe the rec.
;osnized rules of international law gov.
e1ning naval warfare in using her sub.
marines against merchant ships.
so long rs she lives up to this al.
tered policy we can have no reason to
quarrel with her on that score, though
the losses resulting from the violation
OF American rights by German sub.
marine commanders operating under
the former policy will have to be set.
tied.
Treaty Covers British Case.
while our differences with Great
Britain cannot form subject of dis
cussion with Germany it should be
stated that in our dealings with the
we are unquestionably bound to act in
view OF the explicit treaty engage.
ments with that government.
I'VE have treaty obligations as to
the manner in which matters in dis.
pute between the two governments
are to be handled.
I'VE offered to assume mutually
similar obligations with Germany, but
the offer was declined
when, however, the subject in dis
pute is a continuing menace to Amer
lean lives it is doubtful whether such
obligations apply unless the menace is
removed during the pendency of the
proceedings"
Secretary Lansing's statement re-
fers for the first time in the subma.
rine negotiations to the Bryan peace
treaties"
Following is the text of the note
cabled by Secretary Lansing to Am
bassador Gerard at Berlin with in.
structions to deliver it to the German
minister of foreign affairs:
Complete Text Of Note.
"The note of the imperial German
government under date of May 4, 1916,
has received careful consideration by
the government Of the United States.
1T is especially noted as indicating
the purpose of the imperial govern
ment as to the future, that it is pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine the
operation of the war for the rest of
its duration to the fighting forces of
the belligerents, and that it is de.
termined to impose upon all its com.
manders at sea the limitations of the
recognized rules of international law
upon which the government OF the
United States has insisted.
"Throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government
announced on Feb. 4, 1915, its subma.
rine policy, now happily abandoned,
the government Of the United State.
has been constantly guided and re.
strained by motives Of friendship in
it, patient efforts to bring to an amic'
able settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
Places Reliance In Germany.
Accepting the imperial govern
ments declaration Of its abandonment
OF the policy which has SO seriously
menaced the good relations between
the two countries the government OF
the United States will rely upon a