The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-03

with the character of neutrality
and the German government La
convinced that the government
of the United States does not
think of making such a demand,
knowing that the government Of
the United States has repeated
ly declared that it is determined
to restore the principle Of the
freedom OF the seas from what
ever quarter 1t has been violated"
To this the government of the
United States replied on the
eighth of May accepting of course
the assurances given but arguing:
THE government of the United
States feels 1t 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 con-
tfngent upon the course or result
OF diplomatic negotiations be.
tween the government OF the
United States and any other bel
iigerent government. notwith
standing the fact that certain pas
sages in the imperial note OF the
fourth instant might appear to be
susceptible to that construction"
In order, however, to avoid any
possible misunderstanding, the
government of the United States
notified the imperial government
that 1T cannot for a moment en-
tertain, much less discuss, q sug-
gestion that respect by German
naval authorities for the right Of
citizens Of the United States upon
the high seas should in any way or
in the slightest degree be made
contingent upon conduct of any
other government affecting the
rights of neutrals and noncombat-
ants. Responsibility in such mat
ters is single, not joint; absolute
ly not relative"
No Reply Made.
To this note of the eighth OF
May. the imperial German govern
ment made no reply.
On the 31st of January, the
Wednesday of the present week,
the German ambassador handed
to- the secretary OF state along
with a formal note, memoran-
dunn which contains the following
statement:
THE imperial government,
therefore does not doubt that the
government Of the United States
will understand the situation
thus forced upon Germany by the
entente allies-brutal methods of
war and by their determination
to destroy the central powers and
the government of the United
States will further realize the now
openly disclosed intention the
allies give back to Germany the
served in her note addressed to
the government of the United
States on May fourth, 1916.
Under these circumstances
Germany will meet the illegal
measures of her enemies by fore
IDLY preventing after Feb. l, 1917,
in zone around Great Britain,
France, Italy and in the eastern
Mediterranean. all navigation,
that of neutrals included, from
and to England, and from and to
France, etc, etc. All ships met
within the zone will be sunk"
1 think that you Will agree
with me that in view Of this dec
laration which suddenly and
without prior intimation Of any
Kind, deliberately withdraws the
solemn assurance given In the
imperial governments note of the
fourth of May 1915, this govern
ment has no alternative consist
ent with the dignity and honor of
the United states but to take the
course which, in it's note, of the
eighteenth of April 1915. it an
nounced that it would take in the
event that the German govern
ment did not declare and effect
an abandonment OF the methods
Of submarine warfare which =