The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-05
GERMANYS REPLY ON SUBMARINE WAR
TURNS OUT TO- BE DIPLOMATIC ENIGMA

/. . l
"The. German submarine forces have
in fact, orders to conduct the subma.
inc warfare In accordance with the
general principles of ftyisit and search
and the destruction OF merchant yes:
lsels recognized by international law.
the solelexception being theconductEofi
warfare against enemy trade carried
on enemy freight shios encountcreal
in the war zone surrounding Great
Britain. With regard to these, no as.
isurances have ever ben given to the
Government OF the United States. No
such assurances are contained ins the
declaration of February 81 1916.
The German governments cannot
Iadmit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can in nolskind Of. warfare. be- AVOID.
ed altogether. Allowances n1ustSbe
,pade the conduct Of naval warfare
S.gainst resorting to. all kinds OF ruses
whethere permissible orseillicit.
But apart, from the possibility. Of,
errors naval warfare, Just like. war.
fare on land, implies unavoidable dan.
gers for neutral persons and goods en-
tering the fighting zone. Even in cases
where the naval action Is confined to
ordinary forms OF cruiser warfare, nell.,
tral persons and goods repeatedly
come to grief.
THE German. government. has re-,
peatedly and explicitly pointed out
thedangers from mines that have led
TO the loss of numerous ships.
j . .
THE German government has made
several proposals to the Government
of the United States In order to re.
duce to aminimum for American tray.
clers and goods the inherent dangers
OF naval warfare. Unfortunately the
Government OF the United States de-.
cided MOTTO accept the proposals. Had
Z 1t accepted the Government OF the
United States would have been instru.
mental in preventing the greater part
of the accidents that American citi.
zens have met with IN the meantime.
The German government, still stands
BY. its offer! to come to an agreement
along these, lines. III. E
"As the German government repeat.
edly. declared, 1t cannot dispense with
the use of the submarine weapon In
the conduct OF fswarfare against enemy,
trade. The. German government, how.
ever, has now decided to make, fur.
ther concession, adapting methods OF
submarine war to the interests ,ofineu.
trails.
81 n reaching this decision the Ger.
man government is actuated by con-
siderations,, which are above the lev
Ell OF the disputed question, -
n The German government attach:
es. no less importance TO : tliesacred
'lnciples OF humanity than the Gov.
erment of the United States. It again
takes fully. into. account that both gov.
ernmetnse for many years .cooperated
in developing International law in con.
.formityg with these principles, the 5ul:.
innate object of which has always
been to sconfine warfare on sea and
land to armed forces Of beligerents
and safeguard; as far as possible non.
combatants against ithehorrors OF war.
but although these considerations are
of great weight they alone would not
under present circumstances have de.
termined the attitude Of the German
government. For inanswerlt to the ap.
peal by the Government Of the Unit.
ed States on behalf Of the sacred prin.
ciple OF humanity, and international
law the German, government mr<. re.
peat once more with all emphasis that
It was not the German, but the
British government which ignored all
accepted rules Of International law
and extended this terrible swarito the
lives, and property Of non.combatants,
having no repard whatever for the
interests and rights Of neutrals and
non:combatants that through this
method of warfare have been severe.
~ ysinjured. & l1 ii
"In self defense agaisnt the Illegal
conduct OF British warfare while fight
ing 5itter struggle for national ,ex-
istence, Germany had to resort to the
hard but effective weapon Jog subma.
rine warfare. 70
As matters stand i the German sgoy.
ernment sca.notg but reiterate THAT the
sentiments of humanity which the
Government ofthe United States ex.
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