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Show President's Reply -To German Note Washington, Mny 8. Following Is tho text of tho note cnbld today by Secretary Lansing to Embassador Oerard at Herlln, with Instructions to deliver It to tho Gcrmnn minister of foreign affairs; The noto of tho Imperial German government under dnto of Mny i. 1916, has received enrcful consider ntlon by the government ot iho United Uni-ted Stales. It is especially noted as Indicating tho purpose of tho Imperial Imper-ial government ns to tho fuuiro that It la prepared to do its utmost to conflno tho operation of tho war for tho rest of its duration to thu fighting fight-ing forces of tho belligerent i anJ that It is determined to imposo upon all Its commanders nt sea tho limitations limit-ations of tho recognized rules ot International In-ternational law, upon which ths government gov-ernment bf tho United States ha.i Insisted. In-sisted. Throughout the months which hnve elnpscd since tho Imporlnl govern ment announced on February 4, 191 r itc submarine policy, now nappily abandoned tho government of the United States hn8 been constantly guided nnd restrained by mntjjrjs of friendship In its patient cffo"rlV to bring to an amlcnblo settlement Iho critical questions urlslng from Hint policy. Accepting tho Imperial government's gov-ernment's declaration of Its nbnndun-ment nbnndun-ment of the policy which has so seriously ser-iously mennced tho good relations between the two countries, tho government gov-ernment of tho United States will rely re-ly upon a scrupulous oxccutlon henco forth of tho now nllcred policy of tho Imperial government, Bitch ns will remove tho principal danger to nn Interruption of tho good relations existing between tho United States and Germany. Tho government ot the United Slates feels it necessary to statu it takes it for granted that tho imperial im-perial government does not intend to imply that the maintenance of Its newly announced policy is not in any way contingent upon tho courso or result ot diplomatic negotiations between tho government of tho United Unit-ed States and nnv other belligerent government, notwithstanding tho fact that certain passages In tho imperial im-perial government's noto of tho 4th Instant might appear to bo susccptl-bio susccptl-bio of that construction. In order, however, to nvold any possible mls-j understanding, tho government ot the United States notifies tho Imperial Imper-ial government that It cannot entertain, enter-tain, much loss discuss, n suggestion that respect by German nnvnl authorities auth-orities for tho rights of citizens of the United Stntes upon tho high seas should In nny wny or slightest degree bo made contingent upon the conduct of nny other government affecting af-fecting tho rights of neutrals and iioncombntants. Responsibility in such matters 1b single, not Joint; absolute, ab-solute, not relative. |