Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-31
.GERMANY's POSITION
OUTLINED BY Won JACOW
Foreign Secretary Explains Reason
for Nature Of Note Sent to
Washington.
GRAVE ISSUES ARE INVOLVED
Views at Such Variance That Effort
Is Made to Establish Common
Basis Of Fact Before Entering Into
Discussion of Case.

BERLIN. May 30.-tvia London, May
81, $3.50 "A. M)--Gottlieb Won Jagow,
the Imperial German Foreign Secretary.
to-day received the correspondent of
| the Associated Press and outlined the
reasons which impelled the German
government to send an ad interim note
to the United States government in
| stead of final and definite reply to
the Americap representations regard :
| ing the lIusitania and other ships that
have been torpedoed, and Germanv's
| submarine policy.
| The issues involved said Herr Won
Jagow. ARE of such Importance and
| the views in regard to the I.usitania
| show such variance that the German
| government believed IL essential TO at
| tempt to establish a common basis of
| fact before entering into discussion
| or the issues involved
| I'VE hope and trust that the Amcri-
| can government will take the same
| view OF the case: and let us know in
| what points the understanding of the
facts differ from the German view.
point AZ set forth in the note. and in
| what points they agree before looking
| Tor direct answer to their communi-
cation.
| The American note. OF course leaves
| the way open for a preliminary dis
| ."SS'pi " VIC situation as suggested
| In the German note. I hope that such
a common basis of fact. once cstab
| iished. may serve as the groundwork
for further conversations"
UNWILLING no GIVE
| MORE DEFINITE OUTLINE
The minister was unwilling to give
| more definite outline to, or to COM
ment on the suggestion that an ar
rangement might be reached on basis
OF an inspection and ccrtincation bv
the american government OF passen-
ger ships not carrying war carroes
| pointing out that he did not feel en-
ut!cd to anticipate, as the other de-
Partments OF the governments must he
| neard before suggestions could he de-
| hnitely taken UP or discussed
| Dr. Won JaRow expressed pleasure at
| inc newspaper announcement thu,
| American Line steamers we're NOT car
! Tying contraband, but he suggested the
advisability of experimenting such
| newspaper statements by more definite
| authoritative announcements
! Replying to question Dr Won
Jagow said that Germany at the out
set had been willing to abandon her
| submarine war against merchantmen
! III response TO return by Grcat Sritniu
/ 10 IN" regulations of war regarding
contraband Germany accepted before
| the war. the specific condition being
J the lifting Of the embargo on food
| SUMS ana raw materials now on tho
list OF conditional contraband II was
| not Germany's fault. but Great Brit
ANS. he said that tho well-mcant pro-
| posals of the United States for cor,
| promise failed
NOT QUESTION OF NECESSITY,
I hut ONE OF PRINCIPLE
| The question of foodstuHs and raw
s. II Ia Il
. a question OF necessity for GERMANY
but one of principle GERMANY has
shown. think. that il cannot be
starved out by Great Britain's en-
barge on foodstuhs. We may he a lii.
Tic snort OF some or another particu.
lar tooo product, but VIC have enough
TO live on and keep up the struggle
! The same is true of raw materials
with which. according TO the London
Declaration, be!ligerents have no right
10 interfere when they are not specif-
cailS destined to the armed forces of
ian enemy. Germany is able TO get
along even il imports of such materials
are cut off. Germany. however. OBJ
Jects TO tho cool assumption of the
British Cabinet that when 1t is unah bile
10 defeat the German armies lceiti-
mateiy on the battle field IL is entitled
TO try TO force the nation to it's knees
by economic methods. disreg ardinC all
known principles of warfare
| me analogy of the bcSieGed fortress
does not fit Germany. The resident
who settles in fortress does so coz
INFANT OF the risk and aware that he
can leave before the siege begins: but
there is no precedent for the siege of
the civilian population of a whole ma
ton in It's own land. with no possibility
or escape. Germany will fight such an
,un1ustihed method of war with all the
means at her disposal"
DR.. Won Jasow said he had absolutely
no information regarding the American
steamer Nebraskan. which was dam
Jagged by an explosion in the Irish Sea
last week. and in the absence OF anv
definite news as to whether the shin
was torpedoed or struck n mine, he de-
clincd to express any opinion as to the
effect of the incident on the pendinr
negotiations. The Nebraskan. in anv
event DIR. Won Jagow said. was not tor
pedoed with design by German sub
marine. The German policy regarding
neutral shipping even in the war zone
had been enunciated clearly There
was no intention of attacking neutral
ships.
Are you an optimist or pessimist
regarding the German-American situ-
lation?" the correspondent asked as he
was taking his leave of the Foreign
Minister.
How can l tell you how our note
will he received:" replied DR. Won ia
gov. Il have no means of communi
eating with the AMBASSADOR at Wash
ington or of gauginE public sentiment.
Wireless communication is limited and
rather unsatisfactory. There are no
means for ca bling, nd as the open wire
less messages we are sending are read
or interfered with by British stations
we are virtually cut off from America
and are working in the dark"