Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-07

national law, such vessels, both with
IN and without the area declared as
haFal war zone, shall not be sunk
wthout warning and without saving
human lives, unless these ships at
tempt to escape or offer resistance.
But. 1t added, 'neutrals cannot
expect that Germany, forced to fight
for existence, shall for the sake OF
neutral interest restrict the use Of an
effective weapon If her enemy Is per-
mitted to continue to apply at will
methods OF warfare violating the
rules Of international law. Such q
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 1t Is determined to re-
store the principles Of the freedom
Of the seas from whatever quarter It
has been violated
United States Reply.
'ro this the government Of the
United States replied on the eighth Of
May, accepting, Of course, the assur-
ances given, but adding:
The government Of the United
States feels 1T necessary to state that
1t takes for granted that the imperial
government does not intend to imply
that the maintenance of its newly-an-
nonnced policy is in any way contin-
gent upon the course or result Of dip
lomatic negotiations between the gov
ernment 81 the United States and any
belligf. ent. NO 'withstanding the fact
that certain passages in the imperial
governments note Of the Fourth in
slant might appear to be susceptible
Of that construction. In order, how
ever to avoid that misunderstanding
the government of the United States
notifies the imperial government that
1t cannot for moment entertain,
much less discuss, the suggestion by
the naval authorities that the rights
Of citizens of the United States upon
high seas should in any way or in
the slightest degree be made contin-
gent upon conduct Of any other gov
eminent affecting the right OF nell
trails and nOn-combatants. RESPONSE
bility in such matters Is single, not
Joint: absolute, not relative
TO this note Of the eighth Of May
the imperial German government
made no reply.
Gcrmany's --latest Stand.
'On the 31st OF January, Wednes-
day OF the present week, the German
ambassador handed to the Secretary
OF State, along with formal note. a
memorandum which contained the
following statement:
The imperial government there
fore, does not doubt that the govern
n OF I'LL
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the entente allies brutal
method Of war and by their determi-
nation to destroy the central powers,
and the government will further real
ize now that the openly disclosed in
tention Of the allies gives back to
Germany the freedom of the action
which she reserved in her note ad-
dressed to the government Of the
United States on May 4, 1916.
Under the circumstances Ger
many will meet the illegal measures
OF her enemies by forcibly preventing
after February !, 1917, in a zone
around Great Britain, France, Italy
and IN the Eastern Mediterranean all
navigation, neutrals included, to and
from England, to and from France.
etc. All ships met within the zone
will be sunk
II think you will agree with me
in view OF this declaration, which
suddenly and without prior intima-
ton Of any kind deliberately with
draws the solemn assurance given in
the imperial governments note Of
the 18th Of May, 1916, this govern
ment has no alternative consistent
with the dignity and honor Of the
United States but to take the course
which, 1t in its note of the 18th of
April. 1916, 1T announced that it
would take in the event that the Ger
man government did not declare and