Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-08

government, In memorandum, Hdlu-
ed today by Count Won Bernstorff, to
Secretary Lansing, outlines in detail
its position in regard TO the armed
ships, reviews events leading up to
it's decision to torpedo without warn
ing all armed merchantmen of its enc
mics, comedies that international law,
as at present constituted, makes no
provision for the use of submarines
and expresses a willingness to operate
its submarines in accordance with in
ternational law prevailing prior to the
war on the condition that Great Brit
ain does not violate the same laws.
The text of the memorandum reads
as follows:
Washington, March S.-The complete
text of the memorandum presented by
Count Won Bernstorff follows:
The imperial German government,
on account of the friendly relations
which have always existed between
the two great nations and earnestly de-
string to continue them, wishes to ex-
plain the Uboat question once more
to the American government.
AT the outbreak of the war the Ger
man government, acting on the sugges-
ton of the United States, Immediately
expressed its readiness to ratify the
declaration OF London. At that time
a German prize code had already been
issued, which was entirely and with
out modification, based upon the rules
Of the declaration of London. Ger
many thereby proved her willingness
to recognize fully the existing rules of
international law which insure the
freedom of the seas for the legitimate
trade of neutral nations not only among
themselves. but also with belligerent
countries.
Great Britain. on the other hand
declined to ratify the declaration OF
London and, after the outbreak Of the
war began to restrict the legitimate
trade of the neutrals in order to hit
Germany. The contraband provisions
were Systematically extended on Aug
$50, Sept. 81 and Oct. 20, 1914. On
Nov 3, 1914, the order Of the British
! admiralty followed declaring the whole
North sea war zone in which com
mercial shipping would be exposed tc
the most serious danger from mines
and men Of war. Protests from neu
trails were of~no avail and from that
| time on the freedom of neutral com
merce with Germany was practically
destroyed. Under these circumstances
i Germany was compelled to resort, il
| February, 1915, to reprisals in order
| to fight her opponents measures
which were absolutely contrary to in
! ternational law. She chose for this 4;
new weapon, the use Of which had no
yet been regulated by international Law
and in doing so did not violate any ex
listing rules but only took into accoun
the popularity of this new weapon, thu
submarine boat.
The use of the submarine naturall
necessitated a restriction of the fire
movement Of neutrals and constitute
danger for them which Germany in
tended to ward off by special warn
ing analogous to the warning Englan
had given regarding the North sea.
CAS- both igerents-Germany i
her note of Feb. II and Great Britai
in those Of Feb. IS and 20, claimed tha
their proceeding was only enacted i
retaliation for the violation of inter
national law by their opponent, tn
American government approached bot
parties for the purpose of trying to r.
establish international law as it ha
been in force before the war. Gel
many was asked to adapt the use {
her new weapon to the rules whic
had been existing for the former navs
weapons and England not to interior
with the food supplies intended for til
non-combatant German population an
to admit their distribution under Amel
lean supervision. Germany on Marc
l, 1915, declared her willingness t
comply with the proposal of the Amel
| lean government whilst England, O
| the other hand declined to do so. 3
the order in council, March II, 1911
Great Britain abolished even what ha
| remained of the freedom Of neutr;
| trade with Germany and her neutri
| neighbors. England's object was
| starve Germany into submission |
| these illegal means.
Germany, after neutral citizens ha
lost their lives against the wish an
intention, nevertheless in the furthe
course of the war, complied with IL