Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-09
GERMAN NOTE
IS ACCEPTABLE
TO WASHINGTON
Secretary Lansing Cables Answer
for Delivery to Berlin For
eign Office.
SCRUPULOUS EXECUTION
OF POLICY DEMANDED
Says Neutral Rights Are Not
Contingent Upon Conduct of
Other Nations.

Washington, May S.-A note cabled
by Secretary Lansing to Ambassador
Gerard today for delivery to the Ber-
lin Foreign Office informs the Ger
man government that the United
States accepts it's declaration Of
abandonment OF its former submarine
policy, and now relies nron scrupn|-
Gus execution Of the altered policy
to remove the principal danger Of
an interruption of the good relations
existing between the two countries" 1"
With this acceptance, is coupled
formal notice to Germany that the
United States cannot for moment
entertain, much less discuss, a sug-
gestion that respect by German naval
authorities of the rights of citizens
Of the United States on the high seas
should in the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any
other government affecting the rights
of neutrals and non-combatants.
Reply to Statements.
This is in reply to the concluding
statement in the last German note to
the effect that while submarine COM
manders had been ordered to sink no
peaceful freight or passenger carry.
ing ship, without warning or with
ont safety for passengers and crew.
the German government would re-
serve TO itself complete liberty of de-
cisiOn unless the United States was
successful in its efforts to break the
British blockade.
Secretary Lansing issued a State
ment tonight, saying that the greater
part Of the German answer. to the u.
S. note were devoted to matter they
epgld net thg the .Gess9ap
government, Tut that 'they had Yield.
ed to our suggestions. s.,.,,,.-Ns
Note To Germany.
Following is text OF note cabled by
Secretary Lansing to Ambassador
Berard at Berlin. with instructions
to deliver it to the German minister
of foreign affairs:
'The note Of the Imperial German
government uI0er date Of May 4,
1916, has received careful consider
, alton by The government of the Unit
ed States. It is especially noted as
indicating the purpose of the Imperial
government as to tic future. that it is
prepared to do it's utmost to cOntine
to the fighting forces Of the belliger-
enls,' and that it is determined to
impose .iCoE all its commanders at
sea the limitations Of the recognized
rules of International law. upon which
the government of the UEited States
has insisted.
"1bruughcut the months Nhich have
elapsed siilce the l'"pcral Govern
nsn: announced on April 1915, it's
sub .arihc p' icy, lo~' 5'i' lily aban
doned, the government of the United
and restrained by motives of friend
ships in its patient efforts to bring
to an amicable settlement the critical
questions arising from that policy.
Accepting the Imperial Governments
declaration of it's abandonment of the
policy, which has so seriously men,
aced the good relations between the
two countries, the government of the
United States will rely upon a scrr.-
pulous execution henceforth of the
now altered policy of the Imperial
government, such as will remove the
principal danger to an interruption
of the good relations existing lle-
tween the United States and Germany.
No Halfway Measure.
"The Government of the United
States feels it necessary to state that
CONTINUED on Page Two)