Mexico Missouri message., 1915-07-15

Washington, d G. - The arrival
Of the press translation of the waited
German note confirmed Impressions
which have been current in official
quarters for several days that Ger
many would refuse to give the assur-
ances asked for by the United States
in her last note that the lives Of
Americans travelling the high seas
on unarmed ships Of any nationality
be not endangered.
I The following is the full text Of the
note:
The undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to his Elk.
cellency, Ambassador Gerard, to the
note Of the 10th ultimo, re. the i'm
pairment OF American interest by the
German submarine war. The Imper-
ial Government learned with satisfac-
ton from the note how earnestly the
Government OF the United States is
concerned in seeing the principles Of
humanity realized in the present war.
Also this appeal finds ready echo
in Germany and the Imperial Govern
ment is quite willing to permit its
statements and decisions in the pres
ent case. to be governed by the prin-
ciples Of humanity just as 1t has done
always.
The Imperial government welcomed
with gratitude when the American
Government in the note of May 10 it.
self recalled that Germany had al
ways permitted itself to be governed
by the principles of progress and hui
manity In dealing with the law Of
maritime war. ,.,..
Since the time when Frederick the
Great negotiated with John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
ferson the Treaty of Friendship and
Commerce of September 8, 1855, be-
tween Prussia and the Republic of the
West, Germany and American states
men have, in fact, always stood to-
gether in the struggle for the free
dom of the seas and for the protec-
ton of peaceable trade.
In the international proceedings
which since have been conducted for
the regulation OF the laws of mari
time war, Germany and America have
Jointly advocated progressive princi-
pies, especially the abolishment Of the
right OF capture at sea and the pro-
lection of the interests of neutrals.
Sought to Protect Civilians.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German Government i'm
mediately declared it's willingness, in
response to proposals Of the Ameri-
can Government, to ratify the Deolar-
alton of London and thereby subject
itself in the use of its naval forces
to all the restrictions provided there
in in favor of neutrals. Germany
likewise has been always tenacious of
the principle that war should be con-
Quoted against the armed and or
ganized forces of an enemy country,
but that the enemy civilian popula-
ton must be spared as far as posi-
BILE from the measures of war.
The Imperial Government cherishes
the definite hope that some way will
be found when peace is concluded, or
perhaps earlier, to regulate the law
of maritime war In a manner guar
anteeing the freedom Of the seas and
Ia will welcome Il with gratitude and
satisfaction II 1t can work hand in
= hand with the American Government
on that occasion.
II in the present war the princi-
pies which should be the ideal Of the
future have been traversed more and
more, the longer its duration, the
German Government has no guilt
therein. II is known to the Ameri-
can Government how GermAny's ad-
versaries, by completely paralyZing
peaceable traffic between Germany
and neutral countries, have aimed
from the very beginning and with in
creasing lack OF consideration at the
Seas=lction, not so much OF the armed
Iorces as the life OF the German ma
ton, regulating In doing so all the
rules OF international law and dlsre-
garding all the rights Of neutrals.
Made North sea War Area.
on November 8, 1914, England de.
clared the North Sea war area and
by planting poorly anchored mines
and by the stoppage and capture Of
vessels made passage extremely dan
gerous and difficult for neutral ship
ping. SO by that actually blookading
neutral coasts and ports contrary to
all international law,
- .as@Ns~Ns~sp-N-Ns~s~
A Suhdued Vocalist,
-.