The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-05-13
REPLY TO BERLIN NOTE.
OBSERVANCE OF NEW ORDERS
TO PREVENT SEVERANCE.
Germany Told Safety Of American
Lives Cannot Be Made Conditional
on Way England Proseeutes War.

Following is the text
Of the note cabled by Secretary Ian,
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver 1t to the
German minister of foreign affairs:
THE note of the imperial German
government under date of May 4, 1915,
has received careful consideration by
IL is especially noted as indicating the
purpose of the imperial government as
TO ihe future, that IT is prepared to
40 its utmost to confine the operation
OF the war Tor the rest OF its duration
to the fighting forces of the belliger-
ents. and that 1t is determined to inn
the limitations of the recognized rules
of international law. upon which the
government of the United States has
insisted.
throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government
announced. on Feb. 4. 1915, it's sub
the government of the United States
has been constantly guided and re-
strained by motives of friendship in
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
Accepting the imperial govern
ments declaration of its abandonment
of the policy which has so seriously
menaced the good relations between
the two countries. the government of
the United States will reiy upon
scrupulous execution hence forth of the
now altered policy of the imperial gov
ernment such as will remove the pin
good relations existing between the
United States and Germany.
The government of the United
States feels 1t necessary to state that
1t takes it for granted that the i'm
perial German government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy is In
any way contingent upon the course
of diplomatic negotiations between the
government of the United States and
any other be ligerent government, not
withstanding the fact that certain pas
ages of the imperial governments note
OF the 4th inst, might appear to be
susceptible of that construction.
In order however. to avoid any
possible misunderstanding. the gov
ernment of the United States notifies
the imperial government that 1t can
not for a moment entertain--muc less
discuss. suggestion that respect by
the German naval authorities for the
upon the high seas should In any way
or In the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any
other government affecting the rights
of neutrals and noncombatants. Re-
sponsibility in such matters is single.
not joint: absolute, not relative.
Mr.. Lansing's statement made public
after the note was on Its way to Ber-
1.-THE greater part of the German
answer is devoted to matters which
this government cannot discuss with
the German government. The only
questions of right which can be dis
cussed with that government are
those arising out of its action or out
of our own and in no event those ques-
tions which are the subject of diplo.
matte exchanges between the United
States and any other country.
"The essence of the answer is that
Germany yields to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
ship and noncombatants on the high
seas and engages to observe the rec
ognized rules of International law
governing naval warfare In using he
submarines against merchant ships. So
long as she lives up to this altered
policy we can have no reason to quar-
rel with her on that score. though tn
losses resulting from the violation OF
American rights by German submarin
commanders operating under the form
er policy will have to be settled.
while our differences with Great
Britain cannot form n subject OF dis
cussion with Germany. II should be
stated that In our dealings with tn
British government we are acting ~
we are unquesiionably bound to act IN
view of the exp lett treaty engage
ments with thpt vov"rrm@-'
have treaty Obligations as to the man
ner In which matters III dispute
tween the two governments are TO be
handled.
1--WE offered to assume mutually
similar obligations with Germany. bu
the offer was declined. when. how
ever the subject in dispute Is con
tinuing menace to American lives IL is
Il, ubtful whether such obligations ap
ply unless the menace Is removed dur.
ing the pendency of the proceedings