Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-11
PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE ON
~ SUBMARINE ISSUE STILL
w. UNANSWERED.
ADMITS TORPEDOING SUSSEX
Urges U. s. to Insist on Great Britain
Living Up to Rules Of Interna-
tlonal Law Makes Some
Unaracious Concessions.

submarine issue, the following docu-
ment was handed to Ambassador Ge-
sard on the afternoon of May 4:
"The undersigned, on behalf Of the
Imperial German government, has the
honor to present to his excellency,
the ambassador OF the United States,
Mr.. James w. Gerard, the following
reply to the note of April 20 regard
ing the conduct OF German submarine
warfare. The German government
handed over to the proper naval auth
critics, for early investigation, the
evidence concerning the Sussex, as
communicated by the government of
the United States. Judging by the
TesvltS that the investigation has
hitherto yielded, the German govern
ment is alive to the possibility that
the ship mentioned in the note OF
April 10 as having been torpedoed by
a German submarine is actually iden-
tical with the Sussex.
"The German government begs to
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are ascer-
tanned, which are of decisive import
ance for establishing the facts of the
case. Should it turn out that the
commander was wrong in assuming
the vessel to be a man-of-war, the
German government will not fail to
draw the consequences resulting
dherefrom.
"In connection with the case of
the Sussex, the government of the
. TTnffad fofoo ,,oIo 30 .AoAo
,ments, the gist of which is the as
\ sertion that the incident is to be con-
A sidered but one instance Of deliberA
ate method Of indiscriminate destruc-
don Of vessels OF all sorts, nationali-
ties and destinations by German sub
marine commanders.
Repudiates American Assertion.
"The German government must
emphatically repudiate the assertion.
The German government, however,
thinks II of little avail to enter into
details In the present stage of affairs,
more particularly as the government
of the UnitN States omitted to sub
stantiate I'll } assertion by reference
20 concrete facts.
LhC NC1ludu government Will Only
state that it has imposed far-reach-
ing restraints upon the use Of the sub
marine weapon, solely in considera-
tion of neutrals interests in spite of
the fact that the restrictions are nee
aessarily of advantage to Germany's
q enemies No such consideration has
ever been shown neutrals by GGreat
Britain and her allies.
'The German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
the submarine warfare in accordance
with the general principles Of visit
and search and the destruction OF
merchant vessels recognized by inter
national law, the sole exception be-
ing the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade carried on enemy freight
ships encountered in the war zone
surrounding Great Britain. With re-
gard to these no assurances have
United States. No such assurances
rare contained in the declaration Of
FeNNs, 1915.
"The German government cannot
admit any doubt that these ordgrs
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can, in no kind of warfare, be avoided
altogether. Allowances must be made
in the conduct of naval warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds OF ruses, whether permissible or
Illicit.
"But apart from the possibility Of
errors, naval warfare, Just like war
fare on land, implies unavoidable dan
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even in
cases where the naval action is con-
fined to ordinary forms OF cruiser war
fare, neutral persons and goods re.
peatedly come to grief.
"The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly polluted out
the dangers from mines that hSye
He'd to the loss Of numerous ships.
Offers Further Concession.
''The German government has made
several proposals to the government
of the United States in order to re-
dtce to a minimum for American
travellers and goods the inherent dan
geEssof naval warfare, Unfortunately,
lie government Of the United States
decided not to accept the proposals.
Had It accepted. the government OF
the United States would have been
Instrumental in preventing the great
Dr. part Of the accidents that American
citizens have met with In meantime.
"The German government still
stands by its offer to come to an
agreement along these lines,
sAs the German government re-
peatedly declared, Il cannot dispense
with the use OF the submarine weapon
IN the conduct OF warfare against
enemy trade. The German govern