Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

effect an abandonment OF its present
methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight-carrying YES
sells, the government OF the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether"
Kaiser's Sussex Note.
an reply to the declaration the i'm
perial German government gave this
government the following assurances:
1.-The German government is pre-
pared to do its utmost TO confine the
operations OF war for the rest of its
duration to the fighting forces of the
beiligerents, thereby also insuring the
freedom OF the seas, principle upon
which the German government be-
leves now, as before, to be in agree
ment with the government OF the
! United States.
1.-THE German government, guided
by this idea, notifies the government
OF the United States that the German
naval forces have received the follow
ing orders: In accordance with the
general principles OF visit and searth
AMI destruction OF merchant vessels
recognized by international laws,
such vessels, both within and without
the area declared naval was zone,
shall not be sunk without warning and
without saving human lives unless
these ships attempt to escape or offer
resistance.
".But,' it added, 'neutrals cannot
expect that Germany, forced to fight
for its existence, shall, for the sake
of neutral interest, restrict the use
OF an effective weapon II its enemy
is permitted to continue to apply at
viii methods OF warfare violating the
rules of international law. Such a
demand would be incompatible with
the character OF neutrality and the
German government is convinced that
the government Of the United States
does not think of making such de-
mand, knowing that the government
OF the United States has repeatedly
declared that it is determined to re-
store the principle Of the freedom OF
the seas, from whatever quarter it has
been violated
Responsibility Is Single.
TO this the government Of the
United States replied on the 9Th OF
May, accepting of course the assur-
ances given, but adding.
THE government OF the United
States feels ii necessary to state
that it takes it 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
apd any other belligerent government
{ notwithstanding the fact that certain
passages in the imperial governments
note OF the 4th 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
government that it cannot for a mo.
ment entertain, isuch less discuss, a
Z suggestion that respect by German
naval authorities for the rights Of citi.
zens 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 gov
eminent, affecting the rights Of nett
trails and non-combatants. Response
bility in such matters is single, no
Joint, absolute, not relative
TO this note of the 9Th OF May thu
imperial German government mad,
no reply.
Kaiser Withdraws Assurances.
"On the 3lst of January, tn,
Wednesday Of the present week, tn,
German ambassador handed to tn,
secretary Of state, along with lorna
note, memorandum which containe,
the following statement:
THE imperial government there
fore does not doubt that the govern
ment of the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced upol
Germany by the entente allies bruta
methods of war and by their deter
limitations TO destroy the centra
powers and that the government 0
the United States will further realiz
that the now openly disclosed inten
ton Of the entente allies gives bacl
D Germany the freedom OF actiol
- s