The Elbert County tribune., 1916-05-12
REPLY TO BERLIN NOTE
OBSERVANCE OF NEW ORDERS
TO PREVENT SEVERANCE.
Germany Told Safety Of American
Lives Cannot Be Made Conditional
on Way England Proseeutes War.

western Newspaper Union New. Service.
misunderstanding is the text
OF the note cabled by Secretary Ian
sing to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
with instructions to deliver 1t to the
German minister of foreign affairs:
Ihe note OF the imperial German
government under date OF May 4. 1915
has received careful consideration nv
the government of the United States
IL is especially noted as Indicating the
purpose OF the imperial government as
70 the future, that II is prepared to
DO IT'S utmost to confine the operation
OF the war FOR the rest OF its duration
70 tne nshting forces of the beiliger-
ents' ana that II is determined to Inn
pose upon all Its commanders at sea
the Limitations of the recognized rules
o,avnrr.s., ot ,m,ea national law; upon which the
insisted.
Throughout the months which have
elapsed since the imperial government
announced, on Feb, 4. 1916, its sub
marine policy. now happily abandoned
the government OF the United States
has been constantly guided and re-
Its patient efforts to bring to an ami
cable settlement the critical questions
arising from that policy.
Accepting the imperial govern
ment's declaration CT it's abandonment
of the policy which has so seriously
inenaced the good relations between
the United States viii rely upon a
scrupuious execution henceforth of tho
now altered policy of the imperial gov
ernment such as will remove the prin-
cipai danger to an interruption of the
good relations existing between the
United States and Germany.
Ihe government of the United
states feels II necessary to state that
IL takes 1t for granted that the Inn
perlai German government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy Is In
any way contingent upon the course
of diplomatic negotiations between the
government of the United States and
any other belligerent government. not
withstanding the fact that certain pas
ages of the imperial governments note
of the 4th inst. might appear to be
susceptible of that construction.
In order, however. to avoid any
possible Misunderstanding. the gov
ernment of the United States notifies
the Imperial government that II cam
not for a moment entertain, much less
discuss, suggestion that respect by
the German naval authorities for the
rights of citizens of the United States
upon the high seas should in any way
or In the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any
other government affecting the rights
of neutrals and noncombatants. Re-
sponsibility in such matters is single.
not joint; absolute, NOT relative"
Mr.. Lansing's statement made pubiis
after the note was ON its way to Ber-
lin. follows:
The greater part OF the German
answer Is devoted to matters which
this government cannot discuss with
the German government. The only
questions of right which can be dis
cuS5cd with that government are
those arising out of Its action or out
OF Our own and in no event those ques-
tions which are the subject of diplo-
matte exchanges between the United
States and any other country.
The essence of the answer Is that
Germany yields to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
ships and noncombatants on the high
seas, and engages to observe the rec
| governing naval warfare in using her
| submarines against merchant ships. SO
| long as she lives up to this altered
| policy we can have no reason to quar-
| rel with her on that score, though tn ;
| losses resulting from the violation of
American rights by German submarine
commanders operating under the form
| er policy will have to be settled.
While our differences with Great
Britain cannot form subject of dis
cussion with Germany. II should be
stated that in our dealings with the
British government we are acting as
we are unquestionably bound to act In
view of the explicit treaty engage
ments with that government We
have treaty obligations as to the man
ner in which. matters In dispute De-
tween the two governments are to be
handled
I'VE offered to assume mutually
the offer was declined. When, how
ever, the subject in dispute is con-
tinuing menace to American lives 1t Is
doubtful whether such obligations ap-
ply unless the menace Is removed dur
ing the pendency OF the proceedings.