| Show MUST VISIT AND SEARCH BEFORE SINKING ahr nf a germany concedes big point to united states in new naval order KAISERS NOTE conciliatory answer to wilsons Wll Wil sons communication says every consideration Is shown neutrals in restraint of submarine Ware fare partiality Is ie charged to united states and sale 0 of f munitions Is cited as evidence the german admiralty has issued a new order to commanders of submarines that no more merchant vessels vessel sare are to be sunk without I 1 first being visited and searched and that the peo people pe on b board on rd are to be given a chance to save their lives berlin germany by wireless via Sa N Y slay alay 5 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 bas gerard the undersigned undersigner under signed on behalf of the imperial german government has hag the lionor honor to pre present sent to his excellency the ambassador of the united states mr dir jamea gerard the th e following reply 1 to the note of april 20 regarding the conduct 0 1 1 duct of german submarine warfare fa r e the german government handed over to the proper naval authorities tor for early investigation the evidence concerning the sussex as communicated 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 bega to reserve further communication on the matter until certain points are ascertained which are of decisive importance for establishing the facts in the case should it turn out that the commander was wrong lu in assuming the vessel to be a man manof of war warthe the german government will not fall to draw the consequence resulting in connection with the case of the sussex the government of the united states made a series of statements the gist of which Is the assertion that the incident Is to be considered but one instance of a deliberate method of indiscriminate destruction 0 of vessels of all sorts nationalities and destinations by german submarine commanders repudiate charge by U S the german government must emphatically repudiate the assertion the german government however thinks it of little avail to enter into details in the present stage of affairs more particularly as the government of the tha united stites states omitted to substantiate the assertion by reference to concrete facts I 1 the german gei aman government will only state that it has imposed tar far reaching restraints upon the use of the submarine weapon solely in consideration of neutral interests in spite of the fact that these restrictions are necessarily of advantage to germanys germanas Germ anys enemies no such consi consideration considerate derat lon has ever been shown neutrals by great britain and her allies orders international low law obeyed the german submarine forces have had in fact orders to conduct the submarine warfare in accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international law the sole exception being the conduct cod duft of warfare against enemy trade carried on oft enemy freight ships encountered in the war zone surrounding grest 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 declara declaration ilon of february 8 1916 the german government cannot admit any doubt that these orders were given or are exe executed buted in good faith errors actually occurred they can in no kind of warfare be avoided altogether allowances must be made n the conduct of naval warfare against an enemy resorting to all clods of ruses auses whether permissible ablo or illicit t danger cant be avoided but apart from the possibility of brors s naval warfare just like war tre ire on land implies unavoidable don daners for neutral persons and goods on en ring the fighting zone even in oses where the naval action is conned to ordinary forms of cruiser airfare neutral persons ind and goods re come to grief the german geiman government has re and explicitly pointed out the angers from mines that have led to he dofa of numerous ships proposals are not accepted tl the arman government has made tala to the government of the united states in order to reduce to a minimum for american travelers and goods the inherent Inhere ni donger danger cerp gerp of naval warfare unfortunately the government of the united states decided not to accept the proposals had it accepted the government ot of the united states would have been instrumental in preventing the greater part pait ot of the accidents that americans have met with in the meantime the german government still stands by its fis offer to come to an agreement along these lines cant dispense with submarine As the german government repeat edly declared it cannot dispense with the use of warfare against enemy trade the Th german eGerman government however has now decided to make a further concession adapting methods of submarine war edthe to the interests of neutrals in reaching this decision the german government Is actuated by considerations side rations which are above the level of the disputed question the german government attaches no less lampp importance artance to the sacred principles 0 of f humanity than the government of the united states it again fully takes into account that both governments for many years COOP co operated aerated in developing international law in conformity with these principles the ultimate object of which has always been to confine warfare on sea and land to armed forces of belligerents and safeguard as far as possible noncombatants combatants non against the horrors of war repeats britain Is to blame but although these considerations are of great weight they alone would not wider under present circumstances have determined the attitude of the german government for in answer t to 0 the appeal bythe by the government of the united states on behalf of the sacred principles of hil humanity manity and international law the german government must repeat 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 limesand lives live sand and property properio of noncombatants combatants non having no regard whatever for the interests and rights of neutrals neutral sand and non combatants who through this method of warfare have been severely injured in self defense against the illegal conduct of british warfare while fighting a hitler bitter struggle for national existence I 1 germany had to resort to the hard but effective weapon of submarine warfare discrimination Is charged As matters stand the german government cannot but reiterate regret that the sentiments of humanity which the government of the united states extends with such fervor to I 1 the unhappy victims of submarine warfare are not extended with the same warmth of feeling to many millions of women and children who according to tho the avowed intention ot of tile the british government shall be starved and who by their sufferings shall force the victorious armies of the central powers into ignominious capitulation the german government in agreement with the german people falls fails to understand this discrimination all the more mor e as it has repeatedly and explicitly declared itself ready to use the submarine weapon in strict conformity with the rules of international laws as recognized before tho the outbreak of the war if great britain likewise was ready to adapt her conduct of warfare to these rules britain did not heed america several attempts made y the government of the united states to prevail upon the british government to act accordingly failed because of flat refusal on the part of the british government ern erni ment nent Afore moreover over great britain again and agath again has violated international law surpassing all bounds in 11 outraging neutral rights the latest measure adopted by great britain declaring german bunker coal contraband band and establishing conditions under which english bunker coal alone is supplied to neutrals is nothing but an unheard of attempt by way of exaction force neutral tonnage in into to the service of british trade severely chides united states athe 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 of international law the government of the united states would have been certain of attaining this end had bad it been Ot determined to insist against great britain on the incontrovertible rights right sto to freedom of theseas the seas but as matters stand the german pao people are under the impression impressio rf that the government of the united states while demanding that germany struggling for existence shall restrain cestra in the use of an effective weapon and while making compliance with these demands a condition for maintenance of relations with germany confines itself to protests against illegal meth adopted liy by germanys germanas Germ anys enemies Mor moreover euver the german people know to what considerable extent its enemies 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 ly by the government of the united states to sentiments of humanity and principles of international law cannot under the circumstances meet the same hearty response from the german people which such an appeal otherwise la Is certain to find here if the german government nevertheless Is resolved to go to the utmost limit of concessions it has been guided not alone by t the friendship ship connecting the two great nations tor over years lut but also by tho the thought of the great doom which threatens the tho entire civilized world should the cruel and sanguinary w war r bo be extended and prolonged germany desirous of peace the german governments govern menti conscious of germanys germanas Germ anys strength twice within the last few months announced before the world its readiness to ma make ke pence peace on a basis safeguarding germanys germanas Germ anys vital interests thus indicating that it Is not germanys germanas Germ anys fault if peace Is still withheld from the nations of europe the german government feels feels all the more justified in declaring that re could not be borne before the forum of mankind and in lit history S if after 21 months of the wars duration the submarine quest question iori under discussion between the german government and the government of the iho united states were to take a turn seriously threatening maintenance of peace between the two nations anxious to prevent clash aslar As far as lles lies with the Gern german iian government it wishes to prevent things from taking such a course the german government however la is prepared to do its utmost to confine operations of the war for the rest of its duration to the fighting forces odthe belligerents thereby also insuring freedom of the seas a principle upon which the german germa n 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 ahe govern government meni of the united states that verman german naval forces have received the following order I 1 in accordance with the general principles of visit and search and the destruction of merchant vessels recognized 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 fight for ext existence stence shall for the sake of neutral interests restrict the use of an ail effective weapon it if the enemy Is permitted to con continue it I 1 nue to apply at will methods of warfare violating rules of international law such a demand adamand would be bd incompatible with the character of neutrality and the german government Is convinced that the government af the united states does not think of making a demand knowing thattie th that atthe the government of the united states repeatedly declares that elji 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 Is confident that in consequence of tho the ne new orders issued to the naval forces the government of the united states will ulso also now consider all impediments ments removed which may have been in the way of mutual co opera tion toward restoration of the free dom of the seas during the war as suggested in them the note of july 23 1915 and it does not doubt that the government of the united states will now de mand and insist that the british government shall forthwith observe the rules of international law universally recognized before the war as laid down in the notes presented by the ga government vern ment of the united states to the tha british aritis h government december 28 1914 and november 5 1915 should steps taken by the government of the united states not attain the object it desires to have the laws of humanity followed by all belligerent nations the german government would then be facing a new situation in which it must reserve to itself complete liberty of decision the undersigned undersigner under signed avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the american ambassador assurances of highest consideration VON JAGOW |
