The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-05-11
/, s, CABLES ACCEPTANCE
/. Of GERMAN REPLY TO NOTE

ton. In order, however, to avoid any
possible misunderstanding the govern
ment of the United States notifies the
Imperial Government that it can not
for a moment entertain, much less dis
cuss, suggestion that respect by Ger
man naval authorities for the rights
of citizens of the United States upon
the high seas should in any way or In
the slightest degree be made cont1n-
gent upon the conduct Of any other
government affecting the rights or
neutrals and non-combatants. Respon-
sibility in such matters is single, not
joint; absolute, not relative"
Secretary Lansing's Statement.
Mr.. Lansing's statement made. pub
lie after the note was on it's way to
Berlin, follows:
tThe greater part of the German
answer Is devoted to matters which
this government can not 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 questions
which are the subject of diplomatic
exchanges between the United States
and any other country.
Essence of Her Answer.
"The essence of the answer is that
| Germany yields to our representations
with regard to the rights Of merchant
! ships and non-cOmbatants on the high
seas and engages to observe the rec
ognized rules of international rules
governing naval warfare in Using her
submarines against merchant ships.
Losses Will Have to be Settled.
$50 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.
Germany Declined a Treaty.
s'while our differences with Great
Britain can not form subject or dis
cussion with Germany it should be
stated that in our dealings with the
British Government we are acting a.
we are unquestionably bound to ac'
in view of the explicit treaty engage
ments with that government. we
have treaty obligations as to the man
ner in which matters in dispute be
tween the two governments are u
! he handled. We offered to assume
mutually similar obligations with Ger
many, but the offer was declined
, When. however, the subject in dispute
ia a continuing menace to American
lives it is doubtful 1Aether such obi
cations apply unless the menace
removed during the tendency OF tn
} proceedings"
Treaty Of Arbitration.
The treaty with the British GOV
: eminent referred to Is the convention
negotiated by former Secretary Brya
l under which the two nations agre
l., that any dispute arising shall be SUI
Y mitted to an investigating comm1ssio
J. for one year before entering into nos
e tilities.
t An offer to enter into such treat
i for Germany brought request for II
! formation but formal negotiation
l. never were instituted.
: The hope that the note might en-
o the discussion regarding the condue
a Of submarine warfare was entertalne
8 by some officials and by persons
e close touch with affairs at the Germa
8 embassy. Should this prove true tn
wav would be cleared for renewal
h negotiations for settlement OF tn
v I,usttania, Arabic, Sussex and otne
4, cases growing out of illegal submarir
D. attacks. In other official quarter
If however, there apparently was unce
t. tainty regarding the result which II
% note might have. A new crisis, 1t WI
% nointed out, would arise should &c
j. manv make a rejoinder to the col
v. n,unication and insist that its new pt
g lev is contingent upon the Unlt'
le States making certain demands upe
I'd Croof britain.