The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-05

| Germhn people, ialls TO understand
this discrimination all the more as II
has repeatedly and explicitly declared
itself ready to use the submarine
weapon in strict conformity with the
rules OF international law as recog-
nized before the outbreak of the war
II Great Britain likewise was ready
TO adapt the conduct OF It's warfare TO
these rules.
Several attempts made By the gov
eminent or the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because OF hat
refusal on the part OF the British gov
eminent. moreover Great Britain again
and again has violated international
law surprising all bounds in outraC-
Ing neutral rights, che latest meas
1 IRE adopted by Great Britain declar-
ing German bunker coal contraband
and establishing conditions under
which English bunker coal alone is
supplied TO neutrals IS nothing bur
an unheard of attempt by way of ex-
action TO force neutral tonnage into
/ The service of British trade.
The German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to conilne the war TO armed
forces OF the belngerent countries in
me interest OF humanity and mainten-
ance OF international law. The gov
eminent OF the United States would
have been certain of attaining this
end had 1t been determined 10 ,nsist
against Great Britain on the incon-
troveruble rights to freedom OF the
seas. But as matters stand tho Ger
man people are under the impression
mat the government OF the United
states while demanding that Germany.
! struggling forsexistence, shall restrain
/ the use OF an effective weapon md
while making compliance with these
demands condition for maintenance
OF relations with Germany confines
ltseif to protest against illegal meth
DDS adopted by Germany's enemies
Moreover the German people know
10 what considerable extent its enc
mics are supplied with all kinds OF
war material from the United States.
1t Will. therefore be understood
that the appeal made by the govern
meht oil the United States to senti-
ments OF humanity and principles OF
international law cannot under the
circumstances meet the same hearty
response from the German people
which such an appeal otherwise al
/ ways is certain 10 find here. II the
German government nevertheless is
resolved to go to the utmost LIMIT OF
concessions 1t has been guided not
alone by the friendship connecting
the two great nations for over one
hundred years. but also by the
thought Of the great doom which
threatens the entire civilized world
I should the cruel and sanguinary war
be extended and prolonged.
The German government, con-
sclous of Germany's strength twice
within the last few months announced
before the world its readiness to
make peace on basis Safeguarding
| Cermany's vital interests thus indi-
eating that 1t is not Germany's fault
/ If peace is still withheld from the
nations of Europe. The German gov
/ eminent feels all the more justified
in declaring responsibility could not
be borne before the forum of man
kind and in history IL after twenty
\ one months of the wars duration.
the submarine question under dis
cussion between the German govern
lnent and the government of the Unit
ed States were to take turn serious
| ly threatening maintenance OF peace
tetween the two nations.
"As far as It lies with the German
government 1t wishes to prevent
things from taking such a course.
The German government, moreover.
is prepared to do is utmost to con-
| fine operations of the war for the
rest OF its duration to the lighting
forces of the belligerents. The reply
also insuring freedom Of the seas, a
/ principle upon which the German
government believes, now, as before,
/ that 1t Is an agreement with the gov
eminent of the United States.
THE German government, guided
by this idea notifies the government
Of the United States that German
naval forces have received the fol-
loving order: In accordance with
the general principles of visit and
search and the destruction of mer-
chant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, such vessels, both within
and without the area declared naval
war zone, shall not be sunk without
warning and without saving human
lives unless the ship attempts to es-
! cape or offer resistance But neu-
trails cannot expect that Germany,
forced to fight for existence, shall, for
the sake of neutral interests, restrict
the use of an effective weapon II the
enemy is permitted to continue to ap-
/ ply at will methods or warfare violat-
ing rules of international law. Such
a demand would be incompatible with
the character Of neutrality, and the
German government is convinced
that the government of the United
States does not think OF making such
a demand. knowing that the govern
ment Of the United States repeatedly
declares that it is determined to re-
store the principle OF freedom of the
seas, from whatever quarter 1t has
been violated
Accordingly the German govern
ment is confident that in consequence
Of the new orders issued to. the naval
forces, the government Of the United
States will also now consider all i'm
pediments removed which may have
been in the way of mutual co-opera.
ton toward restoration of the free
i dom of the sans during the war, az