USA HISTORY

What was issued by the German government in 1916 to appease the United States and promised an end to unrestricted submarine warfare

(A) ** The Sussex Pledge

(B) The Schlieffen Plan

(C) The Zimmerman Telegram

(D) The Lusitania Doctrine

Concept note-1: -The Sussex Pledge was a promise made by Germany to the United States in 1916, during World War I before the latter entered World War I. Early in 1915, Germany had instituted a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, allowing armed merchant ships but not passenger ships to be torpedoed without warning.

Concept note-2: -Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (1856-1921) issued the Sussex Pledge on 4 May 1916. Germany promised to no longer attack any passenger ships, expanding the promise made in the Arabic Pledge.

Concept note-3: -Consequently, on February 1, 1917, Germany broke the Sussex Pledge and returned to sinking all ‘enemy’ craft. Predictably, there was outrage from the neutral nations, who wanted their ships left alone, and something of a relief from Germany’s enemies who wanted the US on their side.

Concept note-4: -On May 4, 1916, the German Government had accepted these terms and conditions in what came to be known as the “Sussex pledge."