Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-09
Case of England

With this acceptance is coupled
formal notice to Germany that the
United States cannot for a moment
entertain, much less discuss, sugges-
thorities for the rights Of citizens of
the United States on the high seas
should in the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any
other government affecting the rights
Of neutrals and non -combatants. This
is in reply to the concluding statement
in the last German note, to effect, that
While submarine commanders had been
ordered sink no peaceful freight or
passenger carrying ships without
warning or without safety for passen-
| gers and crew the German government
would reserve to itself complete lib
! erty of decision unless the United
States was successful in its efforts to
break the British blockade.
| Mr. Lansing's statement made public
after the note was on its way to Berlin.
follows:
1.-The greater part of the German an
swer is devoted to matters which this
government cannot discuss with the Ger
man government. The only questions OF
right which can be discussed 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.
1.-THE essence Of the note is that Ger
many yields to our requests with regard
to the rights of merchant ships and nom
combatants on the high seas and engages
to observe the recognized rules Of inter-
national law governing naval warfare in
using her submarines against merchant
ships So long as she lives up to this
altered 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 submarine
commanders operating under the former
policy will have to be settled.
while our differences with Great Bri-
tain cannot form a subject of discussion
in our dealings with the British govern
ment we are acting as we are unques-
tonably bound to act in view Of the ex-
plicit treaty engagements with that gov
eminent.
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 mu-
tually similar obligations with Ger
many, but the offer was declined.
When, however. the subject in dis
Iute is a continuing menace to Amer
lean lives, it is doubtful whether such
obligations apply unless the menace is
removed during the tendency Of the
The treaty with the British govern
ment referred to is the convention ne
gotiated by Former Secretary Bryan
under which the two nations agree
that any dispute arising shall be sub
mitted to an investigating commission
for one year before entering into hos
tilities.
The hope that the note might end
the discussion regarding the conduct
Of submarine warfare tonight was en-
tertained by some officials and by per-
sons in close touch with affairs at the
German embassy. Should this prove |
true, no more ships carrying American
citizens being sunk in violation of the |
principles Of International law, the |
way would be made clear for renewal |
Of negotiations for settlement Of the |
Lusitania, Arabic, Sussex and other |
cases growing out Of illegal !
submarine attacks.