Show GERM YIELDS ONE BIG POINT no more merchantmen to be sunk by submarines without visit and SO search ilch REPLY TO aa AMERICAN 1 1 NOTE berlin still sussex facts accuse uses united state states of favoritism and berates britain illegal warfare berlin following ie Is the text of tha tho bote te of the german government governments re reply ply to the an rican note respecting submarine 1 warfare delivered by gottlieb von jagow the foreign secretary to ambassador gerard the undersigned undersigner under signed 0 on n behalf of the imperial german government has the honor to present to his exe excellency ellenby the tile ambassador of the united states james immel W gerard the tile following reply to the note of april 20 regarding the conduct of german submarine warfare the rhe german government handed over oer to the proper naval authorities tor forr fearly early investing investigation ig aaion the evidence concerning the sussex as communicated abed by the government of the united states judging by the results that the investigation Invest Igat ion has hitherto yielded the german government Is alive to the tile possibility that the ship mentioned in the note of april 16 as an havin ing been torpedoed by a german submarine Is I 1 actually identical with the eu bus sex further investigation of cf case to be made the german goern government ment begs to reserve further to communication on the sublet subject until certain points are ascertained which are of decisive importance tor for establishing tab lishing the facts in the case should it turn out that the commander as wrong in assuming the he vessel to be a aiman man of war the german government wil will not fall to draw the tile consequences resulting in connection with the case of the sus voz ax the government 0 of the united states made a teries of statements the gist of which Is 13 the assertion that the In cIden den Is iz z to be but one instance of a deliberate method of i indiscriminate discriminate d destruction le st of vessels of all sorts sorta nationalities and destinations by german submarine commanders denies the assertion facts not furnished the german goern government ment must emphatically repudiate the naser tion the german government covern ment bo however wever thinks it of little avail to enter into details in the present stage of affairs more particularly as the government of the united states omitted to substantiate the assertion W b reference to concrete facts the german goern government ment will only state that it has imposed far reaching restraints stra ints upon the use of tho submarine weapon solely in consideration of neutrals interests in spite of the fact that these restrictions are necessarily of advantage to germany germanys a enemies no such has ever been shown neu tras by grea britain and lier her allies special orders had been lleen given U boats the german submarine forces have hane had in fact orders to conduct the submarine warfare in accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the de st of merchant vessels recognized by international law the sole sale exception being tho conduct of warfare against enemy trade carried on enemy freight ships encountered in the tile war zone surrounding areat britain with regard to these no assurances bae ave ever been given ghen to the Mern u eminent ment of the united baates no 1 0 such assurances are contained in tile declaration of I 1 february 8 1916 As the german government repeatedly declared if it cannot dispense with the use of the submarine weapon in the conduct or of warfare against enemy trade the german government however has bas now decided to make it a further concession adapting methods of submarine war to the interests of neutrals in reaching this decision the tile german government tL 11 la Is actuated by considerations which aich are above aboe the level leel of the tile deputed disputed keeps principles of humanity in view tl TI 9 e german government attaches n no gifts ImPort importance arice to the sacred principles of it humanity than the government of the united states it again fully takes into account that both governments for many years year operated cooperated in developing In terna onal law in conformity with ith these prin caples pies the he ultimate object of which has always always been to confine warfare on sea and d land to armed forces of belligerents and nd to safeguard eafe guard as far as possible nonn combatants 1 1 against tho horrors of war i but ut although these theme considerations consideration are of kreal creat weight eight they alone would not not un under ier present circumstances have determined the for an h attitude attl tude of the german goern government ment aln in gnawer answer to the appeal by the gov ot of the uni united e 1 I states mates on behalf of the principal pl in sacred principles es of humanity and international ernat lonal law the german govern mont nl must t repeat once more with all tn that lt it waa wax nt not the german but lne the british government which ignored all accepted 5 ed rulee rules ot of international law and wended tended tha this terrific war to the lives and property of non combatants ante having no te erih gara whatever alever for the t interests and lights of neutrals and noncombatants that aha at i through this method of warfare have been en seier severely ely injured in bif e against the tile con sr duo bitter of t british warfare while ill ting it struggle agle Kg le for national existence ge en 1 had to 1 resort to the hard but effective cuve weapon capon of submarine warfare As matters stand stanl the german govern anent benl enl cannot ot but iterate reiterate regret that tho sentiments totne of 0 humanity anity which the govern ont of the he united cited states extends with lelh L fervor avor to he the unhappy victims of submarine th he e warfare are not extended with 1 m same warmth of feeling to many ot ecman anen and children who ac british n cording fi to the avowed intention of the who government shall be starved and by y shall force the vic corlous un armies of the te central powers poser into u capitulation tha T erman man government in agree jl iii ru n th therman understand people tails to the stion all tue more as it 1 iia I 1 y declared itsell rep ra gedly and explicit id to use the sub mar in ne kapoll in 1 strict with t h e rules of 0 international conformity law recognized cn iel before as acniel the tile outbreak of u the tile wor I 1 f great at britain was i ic es ft r t conda 01 t ot of airfare to these rules ameral attempts b the eov go eri erniest erni anent ent ot of the united states to pr re e 1 11 1 uin 10 the orillah kolment KOn bov ment to act c berul accordingly V fabled alst or of refu al oil n the he lart part ur of tile british gov ka ern ment floreo er breut fa bluain again ind again has aa violated vl olat international law n all bound in ill outraging dutral atral 0 rights ahe litot measure it adopted to great reat Bri britelli tilli declaring 1 german ger 1 bunker coal contri bind and english ni 1 l conditions under abich ch bunker coal alone ls Is supplied to neutrals ft th nothing but an unheard of attempt 8 apt lpt by way ot of action exaction to nr of force r t etral neutral tonnage W into the luvice lu vice 01 british trade war alleges favoritism ie Is shown to 0 o britain the german people know knows that the government of the united states has the power to confine the war to armed forces of the belligerent countries in the interest of 0 humanity and maint nance of international gov law th the a government ot of the united state states would have hae been certain of attal ling this end had it been determined to insist against great britain on the incontrovertible right to freedom of the seas but as matters eland stand the german people Is under the tile impression that the govern ment of the united state states while d de manding that germany struggling fe for existence ahall shall rt restrain atrain the use of 0 an effective weapon and while making compliance with these demands a condition for maintenance of relations with germany confines itself to pro testa tests against illegal methods adopted by germany a s enemies Alore moreover over the german people knows known to what considerable extent its enemies are supplied with all kinde kinds of war material frera the united states it will therefore be understood that the appeal made by the government of the united states to sentiments of 0 hu inanity and principles of international law cannot under the circumstances meet the hearty response from the german people which aich such an in appeal otherwise alua Is to certain to find here it 11 the german government nevertheless in 1 resolved to go to the utmost limit of concessions it haa has been guided not alone by the friendship connecting the two great nations for far over one hundred years but also by the thought of the great doom which threatens the entire civilized world should the cruel and sanguinary viar mar be extended and prolonged the german government conscious of germanys strength twice within the last few months announced before the world its readiness to make peace on a basis safeguarding germany a vital inget Int eveta sta thus indicating that it Is 13 not germany germanys a fault it if peace Is in a still till withheld from the nations of europe the german government feair all the more inore I 1 in declaring tring ahna responsibility lity could not be before the forum of mankind ani ant in history if it after twenty one month months of the duration the submarine question under discussion between the german government and the goern government ment of the united states stated were to take a turn bously threatening maintenance of peace between the two tell tells of new orders given to war vessels As an far as lies with the german government it wishes to prevent things from taking such a course the german government Bern goern ment moreover Is prepared to do its utmost to confine operations of the tile war for the rest of its duration to the denting forces of the belligerents thereby also insuring freedom of the seas a principle upon which the german government believes now as all before the war that it ie is in agreement with the tile government of the united states the german goern government ment guided by this idea notifies the tile government of the U united states that german na naval v al force forces ha have a received the following or der in accordance with the general gentral principles of visit and search and the de do struL tion of merchant vessels recognized ty by international law such vessels both within and without the area declared a naval war zone shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human lives unless the ship attempt to escape or offer resistance but neutrals cannot expect that germany forced to ight for existence shall for the sake anke of neutral interests restrict tile use of an effective weapon if the enemy in 1 permitted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating rules rule 9 of international law such a demand wo would uld be incompatible with with the character of allty and the german government Is 1 convinced that the goern government ment of the united states does not think of making such a demand knowing that the government of the united states repeatedly declared that it ie 18 to restore the principle ot of freedom of the seas from whatever ht ever quarter it has been violated want demand on britain to obey international law laws accordingly the german government alq 1 conn dent that in consequence of the now new orders issued to the nt evl al forces fht the government of the united states state will alo also al o now consider all 11 Pl ments removed which may have been in the of mutual operation cooperation co toward way ion of t the he freedom if athe the seas rora in the during the war r as suggested of july 23 1915 and it docs does not note doubt that tile go of the unit and insist demand ed states sta e win will now hall shall hat the government that of interns In terna forthwith observe the rules recognized be dional nal liw universally in the note notes down laid as an the he war presented fore ore anted by the goic government rement of the the british governs states to united 23 1914 I 1 and noo no nov o Ie december cember ber should 5 1915 f steps taken att by the govern not attain of the united state 3 ment lit it desire desires to 10 ha have ve the law lavre the henary object followed by 11 al II 11 bel balliger belll liger ger of ent hn nations the acaru german Tru government ahn be facing ac A no W in which tt it must reserve to iosef COW liberty of decision 01 undersigned avails himself 01 the opportunity to renew rene to the amer lean ican this anibas ador arnce ur nce of highest consideration |