Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-07-15

the order to British merchantmen to
arm themselves and to ram submar.
ines, and the promise of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer.
chantmen as travellers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing degree
| to all the dangers of war.
'If the commander of the German
| submarine which destroyed the Lust
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing a torpedo this would have
| meant the sure destruction of his own
vessel. After the experiences in sink
ing much smaller and less seaworthy
vessels, it was to be expected that a
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above the water long enough
even after the torpedoing to permit
passengers to enter the ships boats.
Circumstances of very peculiar
kind, especially the presence on
board of large quantities of highly
explosive materials defeated this ex-
pectation. In addition it may be
pointed out that If the Lusitania had
been spared thousands of cases of
munitions would have been sent to
Germany's enemies and thereby thou
sands of German mothers and children
robbed of breadwinners.
Will Not Injure Americans.
'In the spirit OF friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the union and it's in
habitants since the earliest days of
it's existence, the imperial govern
ment will always be ready to do all
it can during the present war also
to prevent the jeopardizing of lives
of American citizens. The imperial
government, therefore, repeats the
assurances that American ships will
not be hindered in the prosecution of
legitimate shipping and the lives of
American citizens in neutral vessels
shall not be placed in jeopardy.
'In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view of the con-
duct of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage Of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by spe-
cial markings and notified reason
able time In advance. The imperial
government, however, confidently
hopes that the American government
will assume to guarantee that these
vessels have no contraband on board,
details of arrangement for the un-
hampered passage Of these vessels to
be agreed upon by the naval author.
ities of both sides.
"In order to furnish adequate ia
cilities for travel across the Atlantic
for American citizens, the German
government submits for consideration
a proposal to increase the number
of available steamers by installing in
passenger service a reasonable num-
Der of neutral steamers under the
American flag, the exact number to
be agreed upon under the same con-
dition as the above mentioned Amer
lean steamers.
1.-THE imperial government believes
1t can assume that in this manner ade-
quate facilities for travel across the
Atlantic ocean can be afforded Amer
lean citizens. There would, therefore,
appear to be no compelling necessity
for American citizens to travel to Eu-
rope in time of war on ships carrying
an enemy flag. In particular the i'm
perial government is unable to ad-
NIT. that American citizens can pro-
tect an enemy ship through the mere
fact of their presence on board.
Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared part
of the high sea an area Of war. Con-
sequently, accident suffered by neu-
trails on enemy ships in this area OF
war cannot well be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrals are
at all times exposed at the seat OF
war on land when they betake them
selves into dangerous localities In
spite OF previous warnings. II. howev-
err, 1t should not be possible for the
American government to require an
adequate number of neutral passen-
ger steamers, the imperial government
is prepared to interpose no objections
to the placing under the American
flag by the American government OF
four enemy passenger steamers for
passenger traffic between North
America and England. Assurances OF
free and safe passage for American
passenger steamers would extend to
apply under the identical pro-condi-
tions to these formerly hostile pas.
senger steamers.
"The president Of the United States
has declared his readiness, in way
deserving Of thanks, to communicate
and suggest proposals to the govern
ment of Great Britain with particular
reference to the alteration Of marine
war. The imperial government will
always be glad to make use OF the
good offices OF the president and
hopes that his efforts in the present
case, as we'll as in the direction OF
the lofty ideal OF the freedom of the
seas, will lead to an understanding.
THE undersigned requests the am
bassador to bring the above to the
knowledge OF the American govern
ment and ayails himself of the OPP
portunity TO renew to his excellency
the assurances OF his most distin-
guished consideration.
won Jagow."
~~~~~~~-~-~-~~>~~~o~c~~ ~~~-~~-~~~--~~~~~~~~~