The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-05-12

tween This Government and Great
Britain With the Imperial Govern
ment-Essence of the Answer.
washington, May g. President
Wilson sent a note to the German
government accepting its declaration
OF abandonment of illegal submarine
warfare and rejecting the suggestion
that the United States regard this
abandonment as conditional UPON
Great Britain's action with respect to
the blockade. The note is courteous
in tone, but firm and definite Ii is
intended to remove all doubt on the
part of the imperial government as to
the position the United States has
taken.
Secretary Lansing issued the fol-
lowing statement explaining why the
United States can not discuss mat.
tiers pertaining to the relations be-
tween this government and Great
Britain with the imperial government
THE greater part Of the German
answr is devoted to matters which
This government can not discuss with
The German government. The only
question of right which can be dis.
cussed with that government are
those arising out of it's action or out
OF our own. and in no event those
questions which are the subject Of
diplomats exchanges between the
United States and another country.
The essence of the answer is that
Germany yields to our representa-
ttons with regard to the rights Of mer-
chant ships and noncombatants on
the high seas, and engages to observe
the recognized rules Of international
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 Ger
man submarine commanders operat-
ing under the former policy will have
to be settled.
Differences With England.
"While our differences with Great
Britain can not form a subject Of dis
cussion 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 engage
nents with that government. We
have treaty obligations as to the mali
rer in which matters in dispute be-
tween 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
Fute 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"
The presidents note to Germany,
It is explained, is aimed at clearing
up any misinterpretations which
night arise from the indefinite Ian
guage of the German reply. Tne pres
hent seeks to accomplish this with
the statement that the United States
has noted the purpose Of the imperial
government to impose upon subma
rine commanders the limitations OF
the recognized rules OF international
law, 'uron which the government Of
the United States has insisted"
Germany in her answer agreed to
follow international law, but carefully
refrained from stipulating whether
this was to be international law as
understood and interpreted by Ger
many" o. international law as I'm
derstood and interpreted by the Unit
cd States" There are some radical
points OF difference in the way the
two governments interpret interna-
tional law in the present submarine
controversy.