The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-12

the rules of international law I'M
iversally recognized before the
war, as are laid down in the notes
presented by the Government of
the United States to the British
Government, December &c, 1914,
and November 5, 1915.
Should steps taken by the
Government of the United States
not attain the object it desires,
to have the laws of humanity
followed by the belligerent ma
tions, the German Government
would then be facing new stu
alton in which it must reserve
to itself complete liberty of de-
cision.
Break Averted for Present
While the German note is hedged
about with reservations and sugges-
tions, its alleged order to its subma
rine commanders to conform to the
recognized demands of international
law has been accepted, and a break
with Germany is averted for the
present, at least. But in his note adj
vising Germany of the receipt of its
note and his acceptance of that part
referring to submarine attacks, the
President gives Germany to under
stand clearly that the United States
"cannot for moment entertain, much
less discuss, a suggestion that re-
spect by German naval authorities
for the rights of citizens of the Unit
ed States upon the high seas should
in any way, OF in the slightest de-
gree, be made contingent upon the
conduct of any other government af-
fecting the rights of neutrals and
non-combatants." This notification
was forwarded to Germany on May
Sth, and is in full as follows:
Reply to Germany's Note
1.-THE note of the Imperial Ger
man Government under date of
May A, 1916, has received care
full consideration by the Govern
ment of the United States. 1t is
especially noted as indicating the
purpose Of the Imperial Govern
ment as to the future, that it is
prepared to do its utmost to con-
fine the operation of the war for
the rest of its duration TO the
fighting forces of the belliger-
ents and that it is determined to
impose upon all it's commanders
at sea the limitations of the rec
ognized rules of international
law upon which the Government
of the United States has insisted.
Throughout the months which
have elapsed since the Imperial
Government announced on Febru-
airy 4, 1915, it's submarine policy,
now happily abandoned, the Gov
eminent of the United States
has been constantly guided and
restrained by motives of friend
ship in it's patient efforts to
bring to an amicable settlement
the critical questions arising from
that policy,
Accepting the Imperial Gov
ernment's declaration Of it's aban
donment of the policy which has
so seriously menaced the good re-
lations between the two countries,
the Government of the United
States will rely upon a scrupulous
execution henceforth of the now
altered policy of the Imperial
Government such as will remove
the principal danger to an inter
ruption of the good relations ex-
listing between the United States
and Germany.
"The Government of the United
States feels it necessary to state
that it takes it for granted that
he Imperial Government does not
intend to imply that the mainte-
nance of its newly announced
policy is in any way contingent
upon the course or result of dip
lomatic negotiations between the
Government of the United States
and any other belligerent gov
eminent, Notwithstanding the
fact that certain passages in the
Imperial Governments note of
the fourth instant might appear
to be susceptible Of that construc-
ton.
an order, however, to avoid
any possible misunderstanding
the Government of the United
States notifies the Imperial Gov
eminent that it cannot for a mo-
ment entertain, much less dis
cuss, suggestion that respect by
German naval authorities for the
rights of citizens of the United
States upon the high seas should
in any way or in the slightest de-
gree be made contingent upon
the conduct of any other govern
ment affecting the rights of neu-
trails and non-combatants Re-
sponsibility in such matters is
single, not joint; absolute, not
relative"