The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-05-06


ed not to sink merchant ships un
warned. This and other guarantees
have been extended, the note says, tC
the war zone as well as the higt
seas. q,
was doubt at first as to the
attitude of the government on these
promises because they appear to be
coupled with a demand that " ASH
ington press Great Britain on its de
mand for freedom Of the seas" The
announcement made, however, VI
indicate the note is satisfactory tc
President Wilson.
The president and his cabinet Went
over the note carefully at their meet
ing, but no word was given out then
as to the light in which it was regard
ed.
Later, referring to the section OF the
note in which it is declared err rs
cannot be avoided in warfare, MIR
Lansing said that mistakes in sub
marine warfare were not admissible
He reiterated that the United S a e.
was willing to discuss the conduit Oh
submarine warfare with Germany
after the latter had abandoned the
present practices.
Still later the secretary sail 1t was
possible that the United States m ghi
ask Germany for an official copy OF
the previous orders to submarine com
manders, which never have been com
municated to the state department &c
that they might be compared with the
new orders described in the note.
The private view of officials appsr
emily was that the new orders to SUB
marine commanders apparently met
the demands of the United States un
less an Interpretation were placed On
them to lead to attack on merchant
vessels armed for defensive purposes
General opinion decided that the
crux of the communication lies in two
sections, both near the end. One, is
a quotation of instructions recently
issued by the German government to
its submarine commanders, which
reads as follows:
I'm accordance with the genera
principles of visit and search and
the destruction Of vessels, recognized
by International law, such vessels
both within and without the area, de
clared a naval war zone, shall not be
sunk without warning and without
saving human lives unless the ship
attempt to escape or offer resistance
Makes Pledge Conditional.
The second, which follows immedi
ateIy afterward, insists that the Unit
ed States, to show its sincerity as the
champion of the rights Of neutrals in
warfare and the freedom of the seas
must now demand that Great Britain
forthwith observe the rules Of inter
national law as universally recogniz
ed before the war" Ending this sec
ton of the reply, the note reads:
Should the steps taken by the gov
eminent of the United States not at
tain the object it desires, to have the
laws Of humanity followed by all bel
Mgerent nations, the German govern
mont would then be facing new stu
alton In which it must reserve to it
self complete liberty of action
So far as the general tone Of the
reply Is concerned, officials concede
it's seeming unfriendliness. but it wa
pointed out that this was to be ex
peoted, as the German government
had to take into consideration the eff
feet any concessions might have upon
the German people, who consider the
submarine the nations chief weapo
for offensive operations on the sea.
Accusations that this government:
has favored the allies and discri minat
ed against Germany had been expect
cd by officials, and discounted by real
ization that good part of this un
doubtedly Is designed for home con
sumption.
While the general tone of the note
created an unfavorable impression, OF
fcials took the position that the Ian
guage was immaterial if the guaran
tees were real.
The German view of merchant yes
seds as defined in it's decla' alton Of
February of its purpose to sink arm
American view as defined in the arm
ed ship memorandum made public re
Gently differ in several points.
One feature of the note which
aroused more than passing interest
was the admission Of the German gov
eminent that on its face the ev dence
submitted by the United State, tC
show that the French steamship Sus
COX was torpedoed without warning
seemed almost conclusive The refr
sal to accept this evidence as finai
was regarded as immaterial to the
general issue.
In the preamble to the communica
ton, Germany fatty denied many o.
the statements which the president
made in the note of April Is, CHIEF
among them that German submarine
commanders have not observed the
laws of warfare and of humanity.
1t charged this government with
discrimination against Germany and
for the allies in its negotiations with
the various belligerents over the rights
of neutrals in the war, and asserted
that the United States itse'f was large
ly to blame for the accidents to it
citizens on merchant ships a acke
by German underwater craft, because
OF its failure to subscribe to proposal:
which Germany made to govern U-boat
activities.
Germany asserts, in the note, that
she has restricted her submarine &C
tivities, out OF regard for the rights
of the United States and other neu,
trails to her own disadvantage, and tn
the advantage Of her enemies, adding:
"No such consideration ever has been
shown neutrals by Great Britain and
her allies"