Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-05-12
LEAKEsvILE 49,


against Great Britain, on the incon-
trovertible rights to freedom Of the
seas. But as matters stand, the Ger
man people is under the impression
that the government of the United
States, while demanding that Ger
many, struggling for existence, shall
restrain the use of an effective weapon
and while making compliance with
! these demands a condition for mainte-
! nance OF relations with Germany. con-
fines itself to protests against illegal
methods adopted by Germany's ene-
mics. Moreover, the German people
know to what considerable extent its
enemies are supplied with all kinds
of war material from the United
States
ut will therefore be understood that
] the appeal made by the government
of the United States to sentiments of
humanity and principles Of interna-
| tional law cannot under the circum-
! stances meet the same hearty re-
spOnse by the German people which
such an appeal otherwise always is
certain to find here. II the German
government. nevertheless, Is resolved
to 60 to the utmost limit of conces-
| sions, It has been guided not alone
by the friendship connecting the two
great nations for over 100 years, but
also by the thought of the great doom
which threatened the entire civilized
world should the cruel and sanguinary
war be extended and prolonged.
"The German government, conscious
of Germany's strength, twice within
the last few months announce be-
fore the world its readiness to make
peace on a basis safeguarding Ger
/ many's vital interests, thus indicating
that it is not Germany's fault If peace
is still withheld from the nations of
Europe. The German government
feels all the more justified in declar-
ing that responsibility could not be
borne before the forum of mankind
and in history II after 81 months OF
the wars duration the submarine
question under discussion by the Ger
man government and the government
of the United States were to take a.
turn seriously threatening mainte-II
nance of peace between the two ma
| tions.
AZ far as lies with the German gov.
ernment, it wishes to prevent things
from taking such course. The Ger.
man government, moreover, Is pre-
| pared to do it's utmost to confine oper-
ations of the war for the rest OF its
duration to the fighting forces Of the
| belligerents. thereby also insuring
freedom of the seas. a principle upon
which the German government be.
heves now. as before. that 1t is in
agreement with the government of tho
| United States.
"The German government, guided
| by this idea, notifies the government
Of the United States that German
naval forces have received the follow
ing order:
! SIN accordance with the general
principles of visit and search and the
destruction Of merchant vessels recog-
nized by international law, such YES
sells both within and without the area
designated a naval war zone shall not
be sunk without warning and without
saving human lives unless the ship
attempt to escape or offer resistance
"But neutrals cannot expect that
/ Germany, forced to fight for existence.
shall, for the sake of neutral inter-
ests. restrict the use of an effective
weapon IL the enemy Is permitted to
continue to apply at will methods OF
warfare violating rules OF interna-
tional law. Such a demand would be
Incompatible with the character of
neutrality, and the German govern
ment is convinced that the govern.
ment of the United States does not
think of making such demand. know
ing that the government of the United
States repeatedly declares that 1t Is
determined to restore the principle
of freedom of the seas, from whatever
quarter it has been violated.
Accordingly the German govern.
ment is confident that in consequence
of the new order issued to the naval
forces the government of the United
States will also now consider all Inn
pedtments removed which may have
been In the way of mutual cooperation
toward restoration OF the freedom OF
the seas during the war, as suggested
In the note of July %, 1915, and 1t
does not doubt that the government
OF the United States will now demand
and Insist that the British government
shall forthwith observe the rules of
International law universally recog-
nized before the war as laid down in
the notes presented by the govern
ment of the United States to the Brit
ish government December 2S, 1914,
and November 5, 1915
Should steps taken by the govern.
ment of the United States not attain
the object 1t desires to have the laws
OF humanity followed by all belligerent
nations, the German government
would then be facing new situation
In which it must reserve to itself
complete liberty Of decision.
THE undersigned avails himself OF
this opportunity to renew to the Amer.
lean ambassador assurances of high.
est consideration"