The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-05-13


Immediate danger of break between
the United States and Germany has dis
appeared, for the time being, at least,
as a result of further concessions made
by the latter in connection with sub
marine operations.
Any fairminded person would be COM
PEELED to admit that the note received
this week from the German government
is an able state document, presenting as
it does Germany's view of the situation.
1t says, among other things:
"The German government has made
several proposals to the government of
the United States in order to reduce to
a minimum for American travellers and
goods the inherent dangers of naval war
fare. Unfortunately the government of
the United States decided not to accept
the proposals. Had it accepted, the
government of the United States would
have been instrumental in preventing
the greater part of the accidents that
American citizens have met with in the
meantime. x = =
AS the German government repeat
edly declared, it cannot dispense with
the use of the submarine weapon in the
conduct of warfare against enemy trade.
The German government, however, has
now decided to make a further conces-
sion, adapting methods of submarine
war to the interests of neutrals. *
''In answer to the appeal by the gov
ernment of the United States on behalf
of the sacred principles of humanity
and international law, the German gov
ernment must repeat once more, with
all emphasis, that it was not the German
but the British government which ig
nored all accepted rules of international
law and extended this terrible war to
the lives and property of non-combat-
ants, having no regard whatever for the
interests and rights of neutrals and non
combatants that through this method Of
warfare have been severely injured.
"In self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, while fight
ing bitter struggle for national exist
ence, Germany had to resort to the hard
but effective weapon of submarine war
fare.
GAS matters stand, the German gov
ernment cannot but reiterate regret that
the sentiments of humanity which the
r. 4a4o
tends with such favor to the unhappy
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 victorious armies of CEN
tral powers into ignominious capitu-
1ations. = = = 4 !"
GERMANY WILLING TO NEGOTIATE FOR
PEACE
'"The German government, conscious
of Germany's strength, twice within the
last few months announced before the
world its readiness to make peace on a
basis safeguarding Germany's vital in
terests, thus indicating that it is not
Germany's fault if peace is still with
held from the nations of Europe. *
MAKES FURTHER CONCESSIONS
eff the German government, never
theless, is resolved to go to the utmost
limit of concessions, it has been guided
not alone by the friendship connecting
the two great nations for over 100 years,
but also by the thought of the great
doom which threatens the entire civil
lied world should the cruel and san
culinary war be extended and pro-
longed * y
GAS far as lies with the German gov
ernment, it wishes to prevent things
from taking such course. The German
government, moreover, is prepared to
do it's utmost to confine operations of the
war, for the rest of it's duration, to the
fighting forces of the belligerents, there
by also insuring freedom of the seas, a
principle upon which the German gov
ernment believes, now as before, that it
is in agreement with the government of
the United States"