USA HISTORY

This event involves a promise by Germans to compensate those who were injured by their attacks and to warn neutral or passenger ships before attacking.

(A) ** the Sussex Pledge

(B) the interception of the Zimmerman telegram

(C) the sinking of the Lusitania

(D) unrestricted submarine warfare

Concept note-1: -The German government responded with the so-called Sussex pledge (May 4, 1916), agreeing to give adequate warning before sinking merchant and passenger ships and to provide for the safety of passengers and crew.

Concept note-2: -On May 6, the German government signed the so-called Sussex Pledge, promising to stop the indiscriminate sinking of non-military ships. According to the pledge, merchant ships would be searched, and sunk only if they were found to be carrying contraband materials.

Concept note-3: -German policymakers argued that they could violate the “Sussex pledge, ” because the United States could no longer be considered a neutral party after supplying munitions and financial assistance to the Allies.

Concept note-4: -On February 4, 19 15, Germany declared the waters about the British Isles a “war zone” in which submarines would destroy every enemy merchant vessel found there. She warned neutrals that neither the crews nor passengers of such vessels, whether enemy or neutral subjects, would be safe in the zone.