New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-06
TEXT OF GERMAN REPLY

py u (b, ,i,,ess 10 Sayyille NJ Y).-Follotofng Is
the Of the Of the German Government IN rpv 70 o
American respecting submarine wdT1dre' de"V"' w
Thursday By Gottleb JagOw the Foreign Secred'" " ~
bdssddor Gerard:
The undersigned on behalf of the Imperial German Govern
ment has the present to His Excelency the
of the United States Mr. James W. Gerard the olo"hs p'
to of April 20 regarding the conduct Oh herman SUI
marine warfare. , ,
The German Government handed the proper naval
+bro for early investigation the concerning the
Sussex as comm by the Government OF the ohu
Judging bv the results investigation has hitherto ede
the German Government is alive to the possioy a' e p
mentioned the April 10 having been topedoed oy
German submarine actually identical with the Sussex
Tho German Government begs further commuhca
ton on the matter points asceraned when are
~ decisive importance for establishing the facts of the case
cod turn out that the assuming
the vessel to be an-ofwa the German Government WI" not
fail to draw the consequence resulting there1rom'
In connection with the of the Sussex the
the United States series Of statements the g Oh "H
n the assertion that incident to be considered ouI one III
stance of deliberate method of indcrmnate %
vessels of all nationaes and destinations by uera ~
marine commanders . - ,.. 49,,
The German Government emphatcay repudiate the
assertion The German Government however thinks 1t OF hVue
avail to enter into details in the present stage OF aa %
particularly the Government of the United states om
sb,tantate the by reference to concrete act
The German Government will only state that 1t mas ipO'u
farreaching restraints upon the use OIL the suohai.
roey in consideration of neutras interests IN Spe o w
tha these restrictions necessarily OF advantage 10
enemies No such consideration has ever been SHOWN
by Great Britain and her Allies
The German submarine have had in fact orders 10
ct the submarine warfare accordance with the general
nrncipes of visit search and the destruction OF
ss recognized bv international law the sole exception oehS
tho conduct Of warfare against enemy trade carried on enemy
freight ship encountered the surrounding rea
p With regard to these have ever been
Given 70 the Government United States No such assur
ances are contained declaration of February 1910
The German admit any doubt tna ese
were given or are executed good faith Errors actually
lind Of avoided
Allowances must be the conduct of naval warfare a
- ~ reeor,no 70 all kinds ruses whether permissible or
illicit. .o inst
But apart from possibility Of errors, naval warfare J
lilo warfare on land implies unavoidable dangers Tor neu'r
persons and goods entering the fighting zone. Even III
where the naval action is confined to ordinary lori VI
warfare neutral persons and goods repeatedly come 10
The German Government has repeatedly and eXphci'y
onted out dangers from mines that have LED 10 'e ' "
numerous ships. ., l.. ~.
Government United States in order to reduce 10
for American travellers goods the inherent dangers OF naa
fre Unfortunately the of the United states
decided not to accept proposals Had it accepted the GOV
enr,ent of the United States would have been
nreentng the greater part Of the accidents tha American e
zens have with in the meantime
The German Government still stands by It's offer 70 come 10
an agreement along these lines
Az the German Government repeatedly declared IL cannot
nene with the use of submarine In the conduct OF
warfare against enemy trade The German nov"
make further concession, aoap'hs
Of the interests OF neutrals
In reaching its decision the Government is actuated
Conin .. column