Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-08
SPAIN MAKES PROTEST
AGAINST SUBMARINE
POLICY OF GERMANY
[Pepubican A. P. Leased Wirel

RepuDllCdn A. r. Leased wire
MADRID, Feb. T. (Via Paris. y
The Spanish governments reply to
Germany's submarine war zone note is
a firm and dignified protest against it.
1t declares that Germany's decision to
close completely certain sea routes is
outside the legal principles of interna-
tional life. 1t adds that if Germany
hopes to have Spain's help to avoid
more loss of life it must be understood
than Spain, while ready at the proper
time to lend the initiative in support
Of the establishment of peace, cannot
accept the legality of exceptional meth
DDS of war.
The text of the reply follows:
His majesty's government has at
tentively examined the note which your
serene highness was good enough to
remit to me the 31st of January in
which is set forth the German govern
ments resolute intention to interrupt US
from the following day all sea traffic,
without further notice and by no mat
ter what arm, around Great Britain,
France, Italy and in the eastern Medi-
terranean. / must say that note caused
a very painful impression on the Span
ish government. The attitude of strict
neutrality which Spain adopted from
the beginning and has maintained with
loyalty anu ulSNdhdDlS gives
her the right to expect that the lives
of her subjects engaged in sea trade
should not be placed in such grave
peril. 1t also gives her the right to ex-
pect that trade should not be troubled
nor diminished by such an increase in
the extent of the zones in which the
imperial government insists that, in
order to attain its ends, il must use all
weapons and suppress all limitations
which it has hitherto imposed upon its
methods Of naval warfare.
Even before the imperial govern
ment had set aside these restrictions
his majesty's government had protest
ed, holding them insufficient to comply
with the prescriptions of international
maritime law But the methods of war
made by Germany are being carried to
such an unexpected and unprecedented
extreme that the Spanish government,
considering its rights and the require
ments of its neutrality, must with still
more reason protest calmly but firmly
to the imperial government and must
make at the same time the necessary
reserves, imposed by the legitimate
presumption of responsibility which
the imperial government assumes,
principally in view of the loss Of life
which its attitude may cause.
His Majesty's government bases its
protest on the fact that the decision
TO completely close the road to certain
cas- by substituting for the indisputable
right to capture in certain seas and a
pretended right to destruction in all
cases as the legal principles of inter-
national life. Above it considers that
the extension, in the form announced
of this pretended right of destruction to
the lives of -cOmbatants and the
subjects of neutral nations such as
Spain, is contrary to the principles OBJ
served by all nations even in moments
of the greatest violence. If the German
government, as it says. expects that tie
Spanish people and government will
not close their ears to the reasons
which have caused its decision and
hopes that they will cooperate to
avoid further calamities and sacrifices
of human life, it will also understand
that the Spanish government while dis
posed to lend at the proper time its
initiative and support to everything
that could contribute to the advent of
a peace more and more wished for. can
not admit the legality of exceptional
methods of warfare. These methods in
deed, Notwithstanding Spains rights
of a neutral and her scrupulous full
fillment of the duties incumbent on
her as such make more difficult and
even stop altogether her sea trade,
compromising her economic life anu
threatening with grave dangers the
lives of her subjects.
His majesty's government, support
ed more firmly than ever by the justice
If its position. does not doubt that the
imperial government, inspired by the
sentiments of friendship which unite
the two countries, will find, notwith-
standing the severe eXigencies of this
errible war, means of giving satisfac-
ton to Spain's claims. These claims
are based on the ineXorable duty which
binds a government to protect the lives
of its subjects and maintain the in
tegrity of its sovereignty so that the
course of national business be not in
terrupted. For the reasons set out his
majesty's government feels itself fully
sustained in its position by reason and
law.