I found no one in Germany who did not most heartily
and completely approve the sinking of the Lusitania,
and should Germany repeat the act, all Germany
would approve. There was a mingled feeling of con-
tempt and dislike for the victims. They were looked
upon as wealthy and impudent Americans, who, in
spite of being warned by the Imperial Government,
sailed on a ship that Germans regarded as a warship.

I had great difficulty in understanding the German
submarine rules and practice, and finally I was given
a document prepared under the authority of the
Government, which I reproduce herewith:--

1.

In using her submarine weapon, Germany distin- guishes between hostile and neutral ships. Enemy men-of-war are torpedoed without warning. Armed enemy merchantmen are considered as warships: this is done for the reason that their commanders have received the orders published in the German memorandum of Febru- ary 8, 1916, concerning the treatment of armed enemy merchantmen, to open fire on every German submarine at sight even before any hostile act has been committed; this renders a warning from the submarine impossible. Enemy merchantmen are also sunk without warning in the war zone, i.e., the waters around the British Isles mentioned in the proclamation of February 4, 1915. An exception is made, however, for enemy passenger steamers (liners) which for reasons of humanity are not sunk, even in the war zone, without warning and only after saving the lives of passengers and crew.

2.

As for neutral ships Germany respects both the rights of neutrals and the principles of humanity, i.e., neutral merchantmen are sunk only if they carry contraband and cannot be brought into port by a prize crew. No neutral ship is sunk without previously establishing her identity and cargo, and only after saving the lives of passengers and crew. This also applies to neutral ships in the war zone.

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