Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-08
GERMANY SUBMITS
NEW MEMORANDUM
ON SUBMARINE WAR

German government of February 8.
1916.
These orders are obviously in con-
tradiction with the note delivered by
the British ambassador in Washington
to the American government on Oc-
tober 25, 1914. On account of the pro-
posal. made by the United States on
January %. 1915, regarding disarma-
ment. the imperial government hoped
that these facts would enable the neu-
trail governments to obtain the disarm-
ament of the merchant ships of her op-
ponents. The latter. however. con-
tinued with great energy to arm their
merchantmen with guns.
THE principle of the United States
government not to keep their citizens
off belligerent merchant ships has been
used by Great Britain and her allies to
arm merchant ships for offensive pur-
poses. Under these circumstances mer-
chantmen can easily destroy subma-
rines, and if their attack fails still con-
slider themselves in safety by the pres
ence of American citizens on board.
Supplemented by Special Orders.
"The order to use arms on British
merchantmen was supplemented by in
structions to the masters of such ships
to hoist false flags and to ram U boats.
Reports on payment of premiums and
bestowals of decorations to successful
ma sters of merchantmen show the eff
feet of these orders. Englands alles
have adopted this position.
Now Germany is facing the follow
ing facts:
"tA) A blockade contrary to inter
national law Compare American note
to England of November 5, 1850 has
for one year been keeping neutral
trade from German ports and Is max
Ing German exports impossible.
"tB) For eighteen months. through
the extending of contraband provisions
in violation of international law
compare American note to England
OF November 5. 1879. the overseas
tradn of neiShhcring neutral countries.
so far as Germany is concerned, has
been hampered.
'.(C) The interception of malls in
violation of international law (com-
pare American memorandum to Eng
| land of January 10, 1870 is meant to
stop any intercourse of Germany with
foreign countries.
Composing Neutral Countries"
"D) England. by systematically and
increasingly depressing neutral coun.
tries. following the principle of might
| before right has prevented neutra
| trade on land with Germany so as te
complete the blockade of the centra
powers intended to starve their civil
| population.
| "(E) Germans met by our enemie:
on the high seas are deprived of theil
liberty, no matter whether they are
combatant or non-combatant.
| "tF) Our enemies have armed theil
merchant vessels for offensive pur-
poses, theoretically making it impos.
sble to use our L boats. according tc
the principles set forth in the London
declaration Compare American memo
| randum of February s, 1850.
| The English white book Of January
| 5. 1916, on the restriction of German
trade boasts that by British measures
| Germany's export trade has been
stopped almost entirely. whilst her im-
ports ae subject to England's will.
The imperial government feels con-
fdent that the people of the United
States, remembering the friendly re-
lations that for the last hundred years
have existed between the two nations
will. in spite of the difficulties put
into the way by our enemies, appreciate
the German viewpoint as laid down