Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-15

cult fer neutral shipping. thereby
actually blockading neutral coasts and
ports contrary to all international law.
LONG before the beginning Of submarine
war England practically completely in
tercepted legitimate neutral navigation to
Germany also. Thus Germany was driven
to a submarine war on trade
"Or November Il, 1914 the English
premier declared in the House of com
mons that it was one # Englands prin
'iple tasks to prevent food for the Ger
man population from reaching Germany
Via neutral ports since March list Eng
land has been taking from neutral ships
without further formality all merchandise
proceeding to Germany. as well as all
merchandise coming from Germany. even
when neutral property Just as II was
also with the Beers, the German people
is now to he given the choice Of perish
ing from starvation with its women and
children or of relinquisnng its indepcnd
ence
"Whilc our enemies thus loudly and
| openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, We were con
! Quoting war in self-dptenc" for our
national existence and for the sake Of
peace Of an assured pormanoncy We
have been Obliged TO adopt a submarine
warfare to meet the declared intentions
of our enemies and the method Of war
! fare adopted by them in conlavention
Of International law
with all its efforts in principle to nro-
tect neutral life and property from dam
age as much as possible the German gov
memorandum Of February 9Th that the
interests Of neutrals might suffer from
tho submarine warfare. However, th'
American government will also under
stand and appreciate that in the fgh,
for existence which has been forced unon
Germany by its adVersares and an
nounced by them it Is the sacred duty OF
the imperial government to do all withir
Its power to protect and save the lives
Of German subjects. If the imperial gov.
eminent were derelict in these its duties
II would be guilty before God and his
tory of the violation Of those principles
Of highest humanity which are the foun
dalton Of every national existence
The case of the Lusitania shows witt
horrible clearness 10 what jeopardIzln.
OF human lives the manner of conduct
ing war employed by our adversare
leads. In the most direct contradiction
Of international law all distinctions he
tween merchantmen ana war vessel
have been oblteratcd by the order T.
British Merchantmen to arm thcmsove
and to ram submarines and the promis
of rewards therefor, and neutrals VIII
use merchantmen as travellers thcreb
have been exposed in an increasing de
gree to all the dangers Of war
In the spirit of friendship where
} with the German nation has been i'm
bucd towards the union and it's inhab
itants since the earliest days of its eX
,stence. the imperial government Wi
I always bc ready to do all 1t can durin
the present war also to prevent tn
ieopardi2inp of lives Of American cit
izcns. The imperial government
} therefore, repeats the assurances tina
S American ships will not be hindcrcd I
the prosecution of Legitimate shippin
l and the lives Of American citizens /
+ neutral vessels shall not be placed /
jeopardy
In order to exclude any unforesee
dangers to American passenger steam
i ers made possible in view of the cor
duct of maritime war ny Germany
= adVersaries, German submarines wi
he Instructed to permit the free an
5 safe passage of such passenger steam
e ers when made recognizable by specii
e markings and notified a reasonabI
= time in advance, The imperial go,
n erRmont, however, confidently hope
= that the American government wi
: assume to guarantee that these vet
: sells have no contraband on board, d.
d tails Of arrangement for the unhan
l. pered passage Of these vessels to
= agreed upon by the naval authorize
ID of both sides
\, In order to furnish adequate facii
II ties for travel across the Atlantic T.
ii American citizens, the German goverl
ment submits for consideration II pr
ID posal to increase the number OF avail
T. able steamers by installing In passe
ie yer service reasonable number
Ie neutral steamers under the Amerlci
l. tag. Lha sxaat' nun,hsr To nv agrs