Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-05-05
GERMAN NOTE TO
j. s. VERY VAGUE
(Cont:AGta from Page IL

United States in order to reduce to a
minimum the dangers to which Ameri-
cans and neutral travellers are exposed
as an incident of submarine warfare.
Unfortunately, the government of the
United States decided to accept none
If these proposals. Had it accepted,
he government nf tho United States
would have been instrumental in pre-
venting the greater part of the acct
dents that citizens of the United States
have met with in the meantime.
Further on, the note says, AS mat
ters stand, the German government can
but recite its regret that the senti-
ments of humanity which the govern
ment of the United States extends with
such fervor to the unhappy victims Of
submarine warfare, are not extended
with the same warmth of feeling to
many millions of women and children,
who, according to the avowed intention
OF the British government, shall be
starved, and who by their suffering,
shall force the victorious armies of the
Central Powers into an ignominious
capitulaticn. 1t will, therefore, be I'M
derstood that the appeal made by the
government of the United States to the
sentiments of humanity and the princi-
pies of international law, cannot under
such circumstances meet the same
hearty response from the German peo-
PIE which under other conditions such
an appeal is always certain to find
Eere."
Further on, the note states: THE
German government, conscious of Ger
many's strength, within the last few
months announced before the world it's
readiness to make peace on a basis
safeguarding Germany's vital interests,
thus indicating that it is not the Ger
mans fault if peace is still withheld
from the nations Of Europe. The Ger
man government feels all the more JUS
titled in declaring that responsibility
could not be placed upon the nation,
either before the forum or in the max
ing of history if after twenty-one
months of wars duration the subma-
riBe question between the German
government and the government of the
United States should take a serious
turn threatening the maintenance of
peace between the. two nations.
las far as lies with Germany, the
government wishes to prevent things
ticking such course" is a significant
sentence contained within the note.
The communication, further down
adds:
But neutrals cannot expect that
Germany, forced to fight for its very
existence, shall, for the sake of the in
terests of nHutrals, restrict the use of
an effective weapon, if the enemy be
permitted to continue to apply at will
present methods of warfare"
Relating to rules of international
warfare, instructions have been given
to German submarine commanders to
the effect that they are not 10 sink mer-
chant ships without giving passengers
and crew opportunity to escape, I'm.
less such vessels resist or try to es-
cape. These instructions are giver
verbatim in the note and the German
government processes by this order tC
be complying with the demands of the
United States.
The note then asserts that under
these circumstances the United States
Will demand of England and her al
lies that they conform to international
law, and concludes: Should stems
taken by the United States not attain
the object is desires, viz, to have the
laws of humanity followed by all of the
belligerent nations, then the govern
ment of Germany would be facing a
new situation, in which it must reserve
10 itself complete liberty of decision. +"