The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1915-06-14
Reply Sent Germany of Same Tone First
sing Denies Bryans Charges--Frst Note in Detail Given
Today for First Time Here.

ships and in travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas, and exercise those
rights in what should be the well
justified confidence that their lives
Will not be endangered by acts done
in clear violation of universally ac-
knowledged international obligation,
and certainly in the confidence that
their own government will sustain
them in the exercise of their rights
There was recently published in
the newspapers of the United States,
regret to inform the imperial Ger
man government, formal warning,
purporting to come from the imperial
German embassy at Washington, ad-
dressed to the people of the United
States, and stating in effect. that
any citizen of the United States who
exercised his right of free travel
upon the high seas would so do at
his peril if his journey should take
him within the zone within which
the imperial German navy was using
submarines against the commerce of
Great Britain and France, notwith-
standing the respectful but very
earnest protest of his government,
Nii' So' Nl liliiSIl VI liIt lnlltu
States.
Il do not refer to this for the
purpose of calling the attention Of
the imperial German government at
this time to the surprising Irregular
ity of a communication from the i'm
perial German embassy at Washing
ton addressed to the people of the
United States through the news
hirt ,,,1 g.
pointing out that no warning that
an unlawful and inhumane act
would be committed can possibly be
accepted as an excuse or palliation
for that act or as an abatement of
the responsibility for its commits
sion.
MISTAKE SUGGESTED.
Long acquainted as this govern
ment has been with the character
of the imperial German govern
mentment and with the high princi-
pies of equity by which they have
in the past been actuated and guild
ed, the government of the United
States cannot believe that the com
manders of the vessels which com
mltted these acts of laWleSSnesS
did so except under a misapprehen-
sion of the orders issued by the
German naval authorities. 1t takes
it for granted that, at least within
the practical possibilities of every
such case, the commanders even of
submarines were expected to do
nothing that would involve the lives
OF noncombatant or the safety of
neutral ships, even at the cost of
failing OF their object Of capture or
destruction
1T confidently expects, therefore,
that the imperial German govern
ment will disavow the acts of which
the government Of the United States
complains, that they will make re-
paration so far as reparation is pos
sible for injuries which are without
measure, and that they will take |
immediate steps to prevent the re-
currence Of anything so obviously |
subversive of the principles of war
fare for which the imperial German |
government has in the past SO wise |
ly and so firmly contended
The government and people of
the United States look to the i'm
perial German government for just |
and prompt and enlightened action |
in this vital matter with the great |
er confidence because the United |
States and Germany are bound to-
gether not only by special ties of
friendship but also by the explicit
stipulations of the treaty of 1928
between the United States and the |
kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions Of regret and offers
of reparatiOn in case Of the de-
struction of neutral ships sunk by
mistake, while they may satisfy in
ternation obligations, if no loss of
life results, cannot justify or eX
cuse practice the natural and
necessary effect of which is to sub
ject neutral nations and neutral per
sons to new and immeasurable risks. !
THE imperial German government
will not expect the government of
the United States to omit any word
or any act necessary to the per
formance of its sacred duty of main
tanning the rights of the United
States and it's citizens and of safe
guarding their free exercise and !
enjoyment.
(Sipned) "BRYAN."