The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-05-12
Submarine Forces Have Orders to
Comply With the Rules Of
International Law.
Continuance Of Modified Warfare Depends up
on the United States Persuading Eng land
to Abandon Illegal Blockade.

citizens have met with in the mean
time.
1.-THE German government still
stands by its offer to come to an agree
ment along these lines.
LAS the German government repeat
eddy declared, it can not dispense
with the use of the submarine weapon
in the conduct of warfare against en-
envy trade. The German government,
however, has now decided to make a
further concession, adapting methods
of submarine war to the interests of
neutrals.
In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
siderations which are above the level
of the disputed question.
In Sympathy With Principles.
'The German government attaches
no less importance to the sacred
principles of humanity than the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t again
fully takes into account that both gov
ernments for many years co-operated
in developing international law in con-
formity with these principles, the ulti-
mate object of which has always been
to confine warfare on sea and land to
armed forces of belligerents and safe
guard as far as possible non-combat-
ants against the horrors of war. But
although these considerations are of
great weight, they alone would not I'M
der present circumstances have deter
mined the attitude of the German gov
eminent. For, in answer to the ap-
peal by the government of the United
States, on behalf of the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity and international
law, the German government must re-
peat once more, with all emphasis,
that it was not the German, but the
British government which ignored all
accepted rules of international law
and extended this terrible war to the
lives and property of non-combatants,
having no regard whatever for the in
terests and rights of neutrals and nom
combatants that through this method
of warfare have been severely injured.
Charges v. s. Discriminates.
In self-defense against the illegal
conduct Of British warfare, while
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
eminent can not but reiterate regret
that the sentiments of humanity which
the government of the United States
extends with such fervor to the I'M
happy victims of submarine warfare
are not extended with the same
warmth Of feeling to many millions of
women and children who, according to
the avowed intention of the British
government, shall be starved, and who,
by sufferings shall force the victor
ious armies of the central powers into
ignominious capitulation. The Ger
man government, in agreement with
the German people, fails to understand
this discrimination, all the more as it
has repeatedly and explicitly declared
itself ready to use the submarine
weapon in strict conformity with the
rules of international laws, as recog-
nized before the outbreak of the war,
If Great Britain likewise was ready to
adapt the conduct of warfare to these
rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
eminent of the United States to pre-.
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed, because of fiat
refusal on the part of the British gov
eminent. Moreover Great Britain
again and again has violated interna-
tional law, surprising all bounds in
outraging neutral rights. the latest
measure, adopted by Great Britain, de-
claring German bunker coal contra.
band and establishing conditions un-
der which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neutrals is nothing but
an unheard of attempt by way of ex-
action to force neutral tonnage into
the service OF British trade war.
Admits Power of U. S.
'The German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces of the belligerent countries in
the interest of humanity and mainte
nance of international law. The gov.
eminent of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this end
had 1t been determined TO insist
against Great Britain on the incontro
vertible rights to freedom of the seas.
But as matters stand the German PEG
pie is under the impression that the
government of the United States
while demanding that Germany, strug,
Cling for existence, shall restrain the
use of an effective weapon and while
making compliance with these de
mands a condition for maintenance OF
relations with Germany, confines
itself TO protests against illegal meth