THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY  567



    British Commissioners-
        Viscount James Bryce,
        Mr. Maxim Koveleski, Member of Couvsel [Coulncil] of Rus-
          sian Empire.
    Joint Commissioner-
        Mr. Fridtjof Nansen, Norway.
      Faithfully yours,
                                               ROBERT LANSING

                            [Enclosure]
                Proposed Statement for the Press 61

  The greater part of the German answer is devoted to matters which
this Government cannot discuss with the German Government. The
only questions of right which can be discussed with that Government
are those arising out of its action or out of our own, and in no event
those questions which are the subject of diplomatic exchanges between
the United States and any other country.
  The essence, of the answer is that Germany yields to our repre-
selntations with regard to the rights of merchant ships and non-
combatants on the high seas and engages to observe the recognized
rules of international law governing naval warfare in using her
submarines against merchant ships. So long as she lives up to this
altered policy we can have no reason to quarrel with her on that
score, though the losses resulting from the violations of American
rights by German submarine commanders operating under the former
policy will have to be settled.
  While our differences with Great Britain cannot form a subject
of discussion with Germany it should be stated that in our dealings
with the British Government we are acting as we are unquestionably
bound to act in view of the explicit treaty engagements with that
Government. We have treaty obligations as to the manner in which
matters in dispute between the two governments are handled. We
offered to assume mutually similar obligations with Germany, but the
offer was declined. When, however, the subject in dispute is a con-
tinuing menace to American lives it is doubtful whether such obliga-
tions apply unless the menace is removed during the pendency of the
proceedings.

""A notation by President Wilson dated May 8, 1916, reads: "Dear
Mr. Secre-
tary Excuse pencil. This seems to me all right. I hope you will issue it.
W. W." (File No. 763.72/26621.)
The statement was given to the press at 8: 45 p. m., May 8, 1916.