The midland journal., 1916-05-12
WILSON SENDS
4 SHARP NOTE
Friendly Relations Depends on
Germany's Latest Promise.
NO DICTMION ON BLOCKADE
American Rights Must Be Regarded.
Brief Note Rejects Conditions
Implied In Beriin's Com
municaticn.

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Washington President Wilson sent
to Berlin reply to the latest German
note on submarine warfare.
The reply rejects the conditional
clauses of the recent German note and
warns Berlin that nothing short of
complete compliance with the Ameri-
can demands will avert a break.
Secretary of State Lansing issued
the following statement explanatory of
the Administrations action:
"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 dis
cussed with that Government are those
arising out of its action 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 non-combatants on the high
seas and engaged to observe the recog-
nized rules of international law gov
erning naval warfare in using her sub
marines against merchant ships. So
long as she lives up to this altered
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 for
mer policy win have to be settled.
while our differences with Great
Britain cannot form subject of discus
sion with Germany it 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 engagements with
that Government. We have treaty
obligations as to the manner in which
matters in dispute between the two
governments are to be handled. We
offered to assume mutually similar
obligations with Germany, but the offer
was declined. When, however, the
subject in dispute is continuing men
ace to American lives it is doubtful
whether such obligations apply unless
the menace is removed during the
pendency of the proceedings"
Washington. Following Is the text
Of the note cabled by Secretary Ian
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin.
with instructions to deliver it to the
German Minister of Foreign Affairs:
| "The note of the Impesial 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 Government
as to the future, that it is prepared to
do its utmost to confine the operation
Of the war for the rest of its duration
to the fighting forces of the belliger-
ents, and that it is determined to i'm
pose upon all it's commanders 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 Govern
ment announced, on February A, 1915,
its submarine policy, now happily
abandoned, the Government of the
United States has been constantly
guided and restrained by motives of
friendship in its patient efforts to
bring to an amicable settlement the
critical questions arising from that
policy. Accepting the Imperial Govern
ment's 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
scrupulous execution henceforth of the
now altered policy of the Imperial Gov
ernment 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 it necessary to state that
1t takes it for granted that the I'm
perial German Government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
OF it's newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course or re-
suit OF diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the Government of the United
States and any other belhgerent Gov
ernment, Notwithstanding the fact that
certain passages in the Imperial Gov
ernment's note OF the fourth instant
might appear to be susceptible Of that
construction. In order, however. to
avoid any possible misunderstanding.
the Government Of the United States
notifies the Imperial Government that
1t cannot for a moment entertain.
much less discuss. suggestion that
respect by German naval authorities
for the rights Of citizens Of the United
Sfates ,fnon the high seas should In