New Britain herald., 1916-03-08
GERMANY IS FIRM
 IN U-B0AT POLICY
Explains to U. s. Campaign Is
 RepriSal Against England
BERLIN IS DETERMINED
Is Willing to Operate Submarines in Accordance With International Law But Insists England is Guilty of Breach Of Faith

1 Law But insists England is Guilty 1 of Breach Of Faith.
 l Washington, March S.-Count Won Bernstorff, the German ambassador
 today at the instruction of his govern
 ment handed to Secretary Lansing a
 long memorandum explaining in de-
 tail the German position in regard to ] the armed merchant ships and the l causes leading up to the decision of
 the central European powers to tor pedo without warning all armed mer- ] Chantmen of their enemies. Secretary Lansing and Count Von Bernstorf declined to divulge it's contents. It is understood to contain the allegation that Great Britain ha d taken advantage of the contention of the united States that Americans must be safe on defensively armed merchantmen to have those ships act extensively toward enemy submer- sibles.
 The German government, it is un- derstood, comedies that as submarines are new engine of warfare, interna- tJonal law as at present constituted makes no provision for their use.
 Sauce for Goose
 The German government is under stood to express willingness to operate it's submarines in accordance with international law prevailing prior to the war; provided Great Britain doesn't violate the same laws ......
 It also is understood that the
 memorandum contends the evidence appended to the late German an nouncement proved that British ships armed ostensbly for defense have been instructed to act, and have acted offensively and that they are rot peaceful traders. as the United States was assured they would be bv Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the British a m bassador.
 The memorandum is also under stood to refer to the long standing friendship between the United States and Germany and to express the hope that the American people will, when familiar with the explanation offered fully appreciate the position in W hich Germany finds herself as a result of the blockade.
 Great Britain AccuScd
 By way of supportine, the conten- ton that GermanN'S reprisals are jus tlfied, the memorandum is said to onumerate various actions of Great Britain which have operated against the interests of neutrals and their citizens. These are cited to show that Great Britain has violated interna- tiona1 law
 To sustain the German contentious it. is pointed out that Germany agreed to abide by certain terms of the declaration of London but that inas- much as Great Britain has not re- strained her actions to conform with the terms of that declaration, Ger many cannot be expected to to agree 70 operate under code which Great Britain disregards.
 The Memorandum.
 The complete text of the memor- andum presented by Count Won Bernstorff follows:
 "The imperial German government, on account of the friendly relations, which have always existed between the two great nations and earnestly desiring to continue them, wishes to explain the U-boat question once more to the American government
 At the outbreak of the war the German government, acting upon the suggestion of the United States, i'm mediately expressed it's readiness to ratify the Declaration London. Al that time a German prize code had already, been issued, which was en- tirely without modification, based upon the rules of the Declaration of London. Germany thereby proved her Willingness to recognize fully the existing rules of international law which ensure the freedom of the seas for the legitimate trade of nell tral nations not only among then1- selves but also with belligerent coun- tries.
 Commerce With Germany Ended.
 Great Britain on the other hand. declined to ratify the Declaration of London, and after the outbreak of the war began to restrict the 1egi- innate trade of the neutrals in order to mt Germany. The contraband provisions were systematically ex tended on Aug. 5th, goth, Sept. 21st and Oct 29th 1914. On November 3rd, 1914, the order of the British admiralty followed declaring the whole North Sea a war zone in which commercial shipping would be ex- posed to the most serious dangers from mines and men-of-war. Pro- tests from neutrals were of no avail and from that time on the freedom, of neutral commerce with Germany was practically destroyed. Under these circumstances, Germany was compelled to resort, in Feruary, 1915, to reprisals in order to fight her op- ponents measures, which were abso- lutely contrary to international law She chose for this purpose a new weapon, the use of which had not yet been regulated by international law and, in doing so could and did not violate any existing rules, but 1
 Continued On Eleventh pagc)