The Benson signal., 1917-02-10
TO SINK VESSELS
WITHIN WARNING
GERMANY REVOKES PLEDGES TO
v. S. IN STRONG NOTE RE-
CElVED AT WASHINGTON.
RUTHLESSSEAWARFARE
ACTION TO FORCE PEACE NEGO.
TIATIONs IN SHORT TIME is
THE TEUTONIc VIEW.
Western Newspaper Union News Service

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
hington.-FolloWing is the note
of the Imperial German Government
announcing it's decision to adopt pol
icy of unrestricted naval warfare,
which was handed to Secretary Lans-
ing by Count Won Bernstorf:
Mr.. Secretary of State:-Your Excel
lency was good enough to transmit TO
the imperial government copy OF the
message which the President of the
United States of America addressed TO
the Senate on the 22nd inst. The I'M
perial government has given it the
earnest consideration which the PreSl-
dents statements deserve, inspired as
they are by a deep sentiment or re-
sponsibility. 1t is highly gratifying to
the imperial government to ascertain
that the main tendencies of this I'M
portant statement correspond largely
to the desires and principles profeSsed
by Germany. The principles especially
include self government and equality
of rights for all nations. Germany
would be sincerely glad If in recognl-
ton of this principle countries like Ire
land and India, which do not enjoy the
benefits of political independence
should now obtain their freedom.
r The German people also repudlate all
alliances which serve to force the coun-
tries into a competition for might ana
to involve them in a net of selfish IN
trigueS. On the other hand, Germany
will gladly cooperate in all efforts to
prevent future wars The freedom or
the seas, being preliminary condl-
tion of the free existence of nations
and the peaceful intercourse between
them as well as the open door for the
commerce of all nations, has always
formed part of the leading principles
of Germany's political program. All
the more the imperial government re-
grets that the attitude of her enemies,
who are SO entirely opposed to peace,
makes it impossible for the world at
present to bring about the realization
of these lofty ideals. Germany and her
allies were ready to enter now into a
discussion of peace, and had set down
as basis the guaranty of existence, nom
or and free development OF their peo-
Piles. Their aims, as has been express
ly stated in the note of December IL,
1916, were not directed toward the de-
struction or humiliation of their ene--
mics and were according to their con-
viction perfectly compatible with the
rights of other nations.
AS to Belgium, for which such warm
and cordial sympathy is felt in the
United States, the chancellor had de-
clared only a few weeks previously
part of Germany's intentions. The
peace to be signed with Belgium was
to provide for such conditions in that
country, with which Germany desires
to maintain friendly, neighborly rela-
tions, that Belgium should not be used
again by Germany's enemies for the
purpose of instigating continuous hos
tile intrigues. Such precautionary meas
ures are all the more necessary, as
GermanyS enemies have repeatedly
stated, not only in speeches delivered
by their leading men, but also in the
statutes of the economical conference
in Paris, that it is their intention not
to treat Germany as an equal, even
after peace has been restored; but to
continue their hostile attitude and es-
pecially to wage a systematical eco
nOmical war against her:
The attempt of the four allied pow
ers to bring about peace has failed ow-
ing to the lust of conquest of their en-
emies,gwho desired to dictate the con-
ditions of peace. Under the pretense
of following the principle of national
ity our enemies have disclosed their
real aims in this way, viz: to dismem-
ber and dishonor Germany, Austria
Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. To the
wish of reconciliation they oppose the
will of destruction. They desire fight
to the bitter end. A new situation thus
has been created which forces Germany
to new decisions. Since two years and
a half ago England is using her naval
power for criminal attempt to force
Germany into submission by starvation.
In brutal contempt of international law
the group of powers led by England
does not only curtail the legitimate
by ruthless pressure compel neutral
countries either to fOrego altogether
every trade not agreeable to the en-
tente powers or to limit it according to
their arbitrary DEGREES.
The American government knows the
steps which have been taken to cause
England and her allies to return to the
rules of international law and to re-
spect the freedom of the seas. The
English government, however, insists
upon continuing it's war of starvation,
which does not at all affect the mill
tary power of its opponents, but COM
pelS women and children, the sick and
the aged, to suffer for their country,
pains and privations which endanger
the vitality of the nation Thus Brit
ish tyranny mercilessly increases the
suffering Of the world, Indifferent to
the laws of humanity, Indifferent to
the protests of the neutrals, whom they
| severaly HARM Indifferent even to the
silent longing for peace among Eng
lands own allies. Each day of the ter
rible struggle causes new destruction,
new sufferings. Each day shortening
the war will on both sides, preserve
the lives of thousands of brave soldiers
and be a benefit to mankind.
The imperial government could not
justify before it's own conscience, be-
fore the German people, and before his
tory, the neglect of any means. des-
| tined to bring about the end of the
war. Like the President of the United
States, the imperial government had
hoped to reach this goal by negotia-
tions. After the attempts to come to
an understanding with the entente
powers have been answered by the lat
ter with the announcement of an in
tensiffed continuation of the war; the
imperial government, in order to serve
the welfare of mankind in higher
sense and not to wrong it's own peo-
pie, is now compelled to continue the
fight for existence, again forced upon
1t, with the full employment of all the
weapons which are at it's disposal
Enclosing two memoranda regarding
the details of the contemplated mill
tary measures at sea, l remain, etc.
(Signed): j. BERNSTORFF.