| 3. | Germany takes into consideration the principles of humanity inasmuch as she never sinks enemy passenger steamers (liners) without warning and only after saving the lives of passengers and crew. As a part of the enemy pas- senger steamers are armed, and as the English Admiralty orders which were found on British ships and published in the German memorandum of February 8, 1916, give every reason to expect that they will use their armament for offen- sive purposes, it is possible that a naval fight may take place between such an armed passenger boat and the German naval forces. For this reason it is advisable for neutral pas- sengers to avoid traveling on armed enemy passenger boats. | | 4. | In order to maintain the international passenger traffic of neutrals the German Government several months ago suggested to enter into negotiations with the neutral Governments and to designate as absolutely safe certain specially marked neutral steamers which would follow cer- tain routes previously agreed upon (vide note handed to American Ambassador on July 8, 1915). Berlin, April 15, 1916. | This is a sufficiently formidable document, as it was interpreted by the submarine commanders, but the new submarine policy of Germany has thrown all law and decency to the winds. Her lawless and heartless acts in Belgium now find their counterpart on the sea. The German naval authorities believe that England can be forced to surrender from starvation by the ruthless use of the submarine. An expert on the sub- marine said to me, "We can starve England into sub- mission in five weeks if America will not interfere." The noted naval writer, Captain Persius, comment- ing on the German White Book recently issued, con- taining the correspondence between Germany and the United States on the submarine controversy says:-- -135- |