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Show years, but also by the thought of the great doom which threatens the entire civilized world should the cruel and sanguinary war be extended and pro longed." Germany Desirous of Peace. "The German government, conscious of Germany's strength, twice within the last few months announced before the world it: readiness to make peace on a basis safeguarding Germany's vital vi-tal interests, thus indicating that it is not Germany's fault if peace is still withheld from the nations of Europe, "The German government feels all the more justified in declaring that re sponsibility could not be borne before be-fore the forum of mankind and in history his-tory if, after 21 months of the war's duration, the submarine question under un-der discussion between the German government and the government of the United States were to take a turn seriously seri-ously threatening maintenance of peace between the two nations. Anxious to Prevent Clash. "As far as lies with the German government gov-ernment it wishes to prevent things from taking such a course. The German Ger-man government, however, is prepared to do its utmost to confine operations of the war for the rest of its duration dura-tion to the fighting forces of the belligerents, bellig-erents, thereby also insuring freedom of the seas, a principle upon which the German government believes, now as before, that it is in agreement with the government of the United States. To Warn Ships and Save Lives. "The German government, guided by this idea, notifies the government of the United States that German naval forces have received the following order: or-der: " 'In accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant, vessels recognized rec-ognized by international law, such vessels, ves-sels, 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 fight for existence, shall for the sake of neutral interests restrict the use of an effective weapon if the enemy is permitted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating rules of international law. Such a demand would be incompatible with the character of neutrality, and the German government is convinced that the government of the United State? does not think of making a demand, de-mand, knowing that the government of the United States repeatedly declares de-clares that it is determined to restore the principle of freedom of the seas, from whatever quarter it has been violated. Asks for Demand on Britain. "Accordingly the German government govern-ment is confident that in consequence of the new orders issued to the naval forces the government of the United States will also now consider all impediments im-pediments removed which may have been in the way of mutual co-operation toward restoration of the freedom free-dom of the seas during the war, as suggested in the note of July 23, 1915, and it does not doubt that the government govern-ment of the United Slates will now demand de-mand and insist that the British government gov-ernment shall forthwith observe the rules of international law universally recognized before the war, as laid down in the notes presented by the government of the United States to the British government December 2S, 1914, and' November 5, 1915. "Should steps taken by the government govern-ment of the United States not attain the object it desires, to have the laws of humanity followed by all belligerent belliger-ent nations, the German government would then be facing a new situation, in which it must reserve to itself complete com-plete liberty of decision. "The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the American Amer-ican ambassador assurances of highest high-est consideration." VON JAGOW. I MUST VISIT AND SEARCH BEFORE Sili SHIPS Germany Concedes Eig Point to United States in New Naval Na-val Order. KAISER'S NOTE CONCILIATORY Answer to Wilson's Communication Says Every Consideration Is Shown Neutrals in Restraint of Submarine Sub-marine Warefare Partiality Is Charged to United States and Sale of Munitions Is Cited as Evidence. The German admiralty has issued is-sued a new order to commanders of submarines that no more merchant mer-chant vessels are to be sunk with-' out first being visited and seai-ched and that the people on board are to be given a chance to save their lives. Berlin, Germany (by wireless via Sayville, N. Y.), llay f. Following is the text of the note of the German government in reply to the American note respecting submarine warfare, delivered yesterday by Gottlieb von Jagow, the foreign secretary, to Ambassador Am-bassador Gerard: "The undersigned,, on behalf of the imperial German government, has the honor to present to his excellency, the ambassador of the United States, Mr. James W. Gerard, the following reply to the note of April 20 regarding the conduct of German submarine warfare: war-fare: "The German government handed over to the proper naval authorities for early investigation the evidence concerning the Sussex as communicated communi-cated by the government of the United States. Judging by the results that the investigation has hitherto yielded, the German government is alive to the possibility that the ship mentioned in the note of April 10 as having been torpedoed by a German submarine is actually identical with the Sussex. Looking Into the Sussex Case. "The German government begs to reserve further communication on the matter until certain points are ascertained ascer-tained which are of decisive importance import-ance for establishing the facts in the case. Should it turn out that the commander com-mander was wrong in assuming the vessel to be a man-of-war, the German government will not fail to draw the consequence resulting therefrom. "In connection with the case of the Sussex the government of the United States made a series of statements the gifit of which is the assertion that the incident is to be considered but one instance in-stance of a deliberate method of indiscriminate indis-criminate destruction of vessels of all sorts, nationalities and destinations by German submarine commanders. Repudiate Charge by U. S. "The German government must emphatically em-phatically repudiate the assertion. The German government, however, thinks it of little avail to euter into details in the present stage of affairs, more particularly as the government of the United States omitted to substantiate the assertion by reference to concrete facts. "The German government will only state that it has imposed far-reaching restraints upon the use of the submarine subma-rine weapon, solely in consideration of neutral interests, in spite of the fact that these restrictions are necessarily of advantage to Germany's enemies. No such consideration has ever been shown neutrals by Great Britain and her allies. Orders International Law Obeyed. "The German submarine forces have had, in fact, orders to conduct the submarine warfare iu accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant mer-chant vessels recognized by International Interna-tional law, the sole exception being the conduct of warfare against enemy trade carried on enemy freight ships encountered in the war zone surrounding sur-rounding Great Britain. With regard to these no assurances have ever been given to the government of the United States. No such assurances are contained in the declaration of February 8, I91(i. "The German government cannot admit any doubt (hat these orders were given- or are executed in good faith. Errors actually occurred. They can in no kind of warfare be avoided altogether. Allowances must he marie in the conduct of naval warfare against an enemy resorting to all kinds cf ruses, whether permissible or illicit. Danger Can't Ee Avoided. "But apart from the possibility of errors, naval warfare, just like warfare war-fare on land, implies unavoidable dangers dan-gers for neutral persons and goods entering en-tering the fighting zone. Even in cases where the naval action is confined con-fined to ordinary forms of cruiser warfare, neutral persons and goods re-' re-' peatedly route to grief. : "The German government hns re-i re-i peatedly and explicitly pointed out the j dangers from mines that have led to i the loss of numerous ships. Proposals Are Not Accepted. "The tlerr.iau government has made several jv ntosals to the government of the United States in order to reduce re-duce to a minimum for American travelers and goods the inherent dangers dan-gers of naval warfare. Unfortunately the government of the United States decided not to accept the proposals. Had it accepted, the government of the United States would have been instrumental in-strumental in preventing the greater part of the accidents that Americans have met with in the meantime. The German government still stands by its offer to come to an agreement along these lines. Can't Dispense With Submarine. "As the German government repeatedly repeat-edly declared, it cannot dispense with the Use of warfare against enemy trade. The German government, how-, ever, has now decided to make a further fur-ther concession, adapting methods of submarine war to the interests of neutrals. neu-trals. "In reaching this decision the German Ger-man government is actuated by considerations con-siderations which are above the level of the disputed question. "The German government attaches no less importance to the sacred principles prin-ciples of humanity than the government govern-ment of the United States. It again fully takes into account that both governments for many years co-operated in developing international law in conformity with these principles, the ultimate object of which has always al-ways been to confine warfare on sea and land to armed forces of belligerents belliger-ents and safeguard as far as possible noncombatants against the horrors of war. Repeats Britain Is to Blame. "But although these considerations are of great weight, they alone would not under present circumstances have determined the attitude of the German government. For in answer to the appeal by the government of the United Unit-ed States on behalf of the sacred principles prin-ciples of humanity and international law, the German government must repeat re-peat once more, with all emphasis, that it was not the German but the British government which ignored all accepted rules of international law and extended this terrible war to the lives and property of noncombatants, having no regard whatever for the interests in-terests and rights of neutrals and non-combatants non-combatants who through this method of warfare have been severely injured. "In self-defense against the illegal conduct of British warfare, while fighting fight-ing a bitter struggle for national existence, ex-istence, Germany had to resort to the hard but effct!tiye weapon of submarine subma-rine warfare. Discrimination Is Charged. "As matters stand, the German government gov-ernment cannot but reiterate regret that the sentiments of humanity which the government of the United States extends with such fervor to the unhapy victims of submarine war-' fare are not extended with the same warmth of feeling to many millions of women and children who, according accord-ing to tho avowed intention of the British government, shall be starved, and who, by their sufferings, shall force the victorious armies of the central cen-tral powers into ignominious capitulation. capitu-lation. The German government, in agreement with the German neople, .fails to understand this discrimination, all the more as it has repeatedly and explicitly declared itself ready to use the submarine weapon in strict conformity con-formity with the rules of international laws as recognized before the outbreak of th6 war if Great Britain likewise was ready to adapt her conduct of warfare war-fare to these rules. Britain Did Not Heed America. "Several attempts made by the government gov-ernment of the United States to prevail pre-vail upon the British government to act accordingly failed because of flat refusal on the part of the British government. gov-ernment. Moreover, Great Britain again and again has violated international interna-tional law, surpassing all bounds in outraging neutral rights. The latest measure adopted by Great Britain declaring de-claring German bunker coal contraband contra-band and establishing conditions under un-der which English bunker coal alone is supplied to neutrals is nothing but an unheard-of attempt by way of exaction to force neutral tonnage into the service of British trade. Severely Chides United States. "The German people know 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 humanity and maintenance mainte-nance of international law. The government gov-ernment of the United States would have been certain of attaining this end had it been determined to insist against Great Britain on the incontrovertible incontro-vertible rights to freedom of tho seas. But as matters stand the German people peo-ple are under the impression that the government of the United States, while demanding that Germany, struggling strug-gling for ex.istcnce, shall restrain the use of an eflective weapon, and while making compliance with these demands de-mands a condition ror maintenance of relations with Germany, confines itself it-self to protests against illegal meth ods adopted by Germany's enemies. Moreover, the German people know to what considerable extent its enemies ene-mies are supplied with all kinds of war material from the United States. , Belittles Plea of Humanity. "It will, therefore, be understood that the appeal made by the government of the United States to sentiments of humanity hu-manity and principles of international law cannot under the circumstances meet the same hearty response from the German people which surh an appeal ap-peal otherwise is certain to find here. If the German government, nevertheless, neverthe-less, is resolved to go to the utmost limit of concessions it hae been guided guid-ed not alone by the friendship connecting connect-ing the two great nations for over 100 |