The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-05-06

q
In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
siderations which are above the level
of disputed question.
The German government at
taches no less Importance to the
sacred principles of humanity than
the government of the United States.
1t again fully takes into account that
both governments for many years
cO-operated in developing interna-
tional law in conformity with these
principles, the ultimate object of
which has always been to confine
| warfare on sea and land to armed
forces of belligerents and safeguard
as far as possible non-combatants
against the horrors of war But al
though these considerations are of
great weight, they alone would not
under present circumstances, have
determined the attitude of the Ger
man government
For in answer to the appeal by the
government of the United States on
behalf of the sacred principles of hui
manity and international law the
German government must repeat
once more, with all emphasis, that
it was not the German but the Brit
ish government which ignored all ac-
cepted rules of international law and
| extended this terrible war to the lives
and Property of non-combatants,
Il N Il hot e.
interests and rights of neutrals and
non-combatants that through this
method of warfare have been severe
ly injured
I'm self-defense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, while
fighting bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard, but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
"As matters stand the German gov.
ernment cannot but reiterate regret
| that the sentiments of humanity
which the government of the United
| States extends with such ferVOr to
the unhappy victims of submarine
warfare are not extended with the
same warmth of feeling to many mil
lions of women and children. who,
according to the avowed intention of
the British government, shall be
starved, and who, by suffering, shall
| force the victorious armies of the
central powers into ignominious ca
pitulation. The German government
in agreement with the German people
fails. to understand this discrimina-
and explicitly declared itself ready
to use the submarine weapon in strict
conformity with the rules of interna-
tional law as recognized before the
| outbreak of the war, if Great Britain
| likewise was ready to adapt the con
duct of warfare to these rules
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment If the United States TO pre-
vail upon the British government tc
act accordingly failed because of flat
refusal on the part of the British
government Moreover Great Rrjtain
again and again has violated interna
tional law surprising all bounds ir
lOutraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain
declaring German bunker coal con
traband and establishing conditions
under which English bunker coal
alone is supplied to neutrals is moth
ing but an unheard-of attempt by
way of exaction to force neutral ton
mage into the service of British trade
war.
THE German people know that
the government of the United States
has the power to confine the war tC
armed forces of the belligerent coun
tries in the interest of humanity and
maintenance of international law
The government of the United States
would have been certain of attaining
this end had it been determined TO in.
sist against Great Britain on the in.
controvertible rights to freedom OF
the seas. But as matters stand the
German people are under the impress
sion that the government of the
United States, while demanding that
Germany, struggling for existence
shall restrain the use of an effective
weapon, and while making com.
pliance with these demands condi
ton for maintenance of relations
with Germany, confines to protests
against illegal methods adopted by
Germany's enemies. Moreover, the
German people know to what con
siderable extent its enemies are sup
piled with all kinds of war material
from the United States.
"It will, therefore, be understood
that the appeal made by the govern
ment Of the United States to senti
ments of humanity and principles OF
international law, cannot, under the
circumstances, meet the same hearty
response from the German people
which such an appeal otherwise al
ways Is certain to find in her. II the
German government nevertheless is
resolved to go TO the utmost limit OF
concessions, II has been guided not
alone by the friendship connecting
The two great nations for over one
rhundred years, but also by the