The Washington times., 1917-02-03
THE FINAL SUSSEX NOTE

The resolution of the people of the
United States not to tolerate any
outrages committed by Germany
against American citizens on the
high seas was not limited in express
sion to President Wilson's warning
delivered to the German foreign Of
flee in April of last year, after the
Sussex atrocity. That strong and
positive declaration of intention was
followed in the succeeding month by
still stronger and more positive
statement of the American. position.
This was contained in the brief
note, signed by Secretary Lansing
but attributed as to its origin and in
spiration to President Wilson, in
which the German communication
yielding to our demands was ac-
nowledged. The German govern
ment attempted to qualify its con-
cession, to make it temporary, and
conditional upon the Government of
the United States forcing Great
Britain to abandon her blockade of
Germany.
The condition was repudiated by
our State Department in words of
ringing emphasis. In the. note of
May 8, acknowledging the German
concession, Mr.. Lansing-that is to
say, really the President-gave a
final admonition to the imperial Ger
man government in the following
clear and unmistakable terms:
Accepting the imperial governments
declaration Of its abandonment Of the
policy which has so seriously menaced
the good relations between the two coun-
tries. the Government of the United
States will rely upon a scrupulous exc
cution henceforth Of the new altered pol
icy of the imperial government. such as
will remove the principal danger to an
interruption of the good relations exist
ing between the United States and Ger
many.
The Government OF the United States
feels 1t necessary to state that IL takes
1t for granted that the Imperial German
government does not intend to imply
that the maintenance of its newly an
nounced policy is in any way contingent
upon the course or result OF diplomatic
negotiations between the Government Of
the United States and any other bel
ligerent government. notwithstanding the
fact that certain passages in the i'm
perial governments note Of the fourth
instant might appear to be susceptible to
that construction.
In order, however. to avoid any mis-
understanding the Government of the
United States notifies the imperial gov
ernment that II cannot for a moment en-
tertain, much less discuss, a suggestion
that respect by German naval authori-
ties for the rights OF citizens OF the
United States upon the high seas should
in any way Or in the slightest degree be
made contingent upon the conduct OF
any other government affecting the
rights Of neutrals and non-combatants.
Responsibility in such matters is sin
gle. not joint; absolute. not relative.
These declarations have peculiar
significance in view Of the manner in
which Germany in her present over
bearing communication attempts to
place the blame for the renewal of
lawlessness and inhumanity upon
Great Britain and her allies. The
Lansing note sweeps this absurd plea
out of consideration with unanswer-
able logic at least in so far as Ameri-
can interests are at stake. The re-
sponsibility of the German govern
ment for its own acts and those Of
its maritime forces is defined be-
yond cavil and our total immunity
from risk or obligation because of
the acts of Germanys enemies is
.l..,.l,- .,4, bIgbad