Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-24
GERMANY PLEDGES
SAFETY FOR SHIPS
Conditional Contraband Carriers
Under No Circumstances
to Be Destroyed.
ASSURANCES IN FRYE CASE
Berlin's Attitude Produces Favor
able Effect in Official
Quarters.

WASHINGTON, September 23.--Ger-
Frye. has given the United States
formal assurance that American vessels
carrying conditional contraband will
under no circumstances be destroyed.
even though deemed lawful prizes.
The right to destroy American ncr-
chantmcn II carrying absolute contra
band is reserved. but the promise is
given that this will be done only in
cnse Of extreme necessity, as provided
by the Declaration of London.
These assurances. together with tho
acceptance by Germany of the two pro-
posals Of the Uniten Statcs--the one
TO name joint commission of experts
TO Ak the indemnity for the loss of the
Frye, and the other to submit to The
Hague the dispute over the meaning Of
the treaty of lS2S-produccd n favor
able effect in official quarters
Just what the practical operation OF
tho new assurances will be. officials
were kecnly interested to learn. for,
under the lists of contraband pro-
claimed by Germany in retaliation for
acts OF Great Britain, nearly every
thing previously known as conditional
contra band has been made absolute
ATTITUDE OF THE L. :.
IS NOT YET REVEALED
1t is not known as yet what attitude
the United States will take in it's next
note, but it is understood that 1t may
reiterate its insistence that the treaty
OF 1925, and not existing international
law, make American vessels immune
from destruction, irrespective of their
cargocs. Germany, however. is anXi-
Gus TO submit 10 arbitration what the
meaning Of the treaty is on this point,
and IL is possible that if no further
cases OF damages occur during the
pendency OF the arbitration proceed
ings. the American government will be
disposed to await the decision Of the
arbitral tribunal.
One thing which attracted attention
in connection with the German note
was the evident necessity of submarine
commanders, under their new orders.
to exercise the right OF visit and
search with respect to all American
vessels to determine tho ature Of their
cargoes.
The fact that Germany referred TO its
desire 10 demonstrate Its conciliatory
attitude" toward the United States
was regarded by many officials as evil
dencc that the Berlin Foreign Oflce
was disposed TO avail itself OF every
opportunity to remove causes that have
led TO the strained relations between
the two governments.
GERMAN GOVERNMENT
NAMES IT'S EXPERT'
The note follows:
with regard first to the ascertain
ment Of the damage by experts. the
German government believes that Ii
should dispense with the nomination
of an umpire. In the cases OF the ascer-
tainment OF damages hitherto arranged
between the German government and a
neutral government from similar causes.
the experts named by the two parties
have always reached an agreement as
TO the amount of the damage without
difficulty; should it not be possible,
however, TO reach an agreement on
some point, II could probably be set
tied by diplomatic negotiation. Assum-
ing that the American government
agrees to this. the German government
names s its expert DR.. Kcpny. OF Bre-
men. director of the North German
Lloyds; it begs to await the designa-
ton OF the American expert.
The German government declares
that II agrees to the proposal! of the
American government TO separate the
question Of indemnity from the ulIes-
tion OF the Interpretation of the prus-
sian American treaties OF 1885, 1879
and lS2S 1t. therefore. again ex-
prcssly states that in making payment
it does not acknowledge the violation
of the treaty as contended by the
American side. but it. will admit that
the settlement of the question Of in
demnity does not prejudice the ar
rangcment of the differences Of opinjou
concerning the Interpretation Of the
treaty rights, and that this dispute Is
left to be decided by The Hague
tribunal OF arbitration.
TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS
WITH AMERICAN EMBASSY
THE negotiations relative to tho
signing of the compromise provided by
article 50 of The Hague arbitration con-
vention would ""st he conducted be-
tween the Foreign Office and the
american embassy at Berlin in view of
the difficulties in the way of instruct
Ing the imperial Ambassador at Wash
ington. In case the American govern
ment agrees. the Foreign Office is pre-
pared to submit to the cmbassy a dra ft
of such compromise.
The American governments inquiry
whether the German government will
govern its naval operations I'm accord
ance with the German or the American
Interpretation OF the treaty stipulations
IN question pending the arbitral pro-
ceedings has been carefully considered
by the German government. From the
standpoint of law and equity. il is not
prevented in It's opinion from proceed :
ins against American ships CARRYING
contrabnnd, according to its interpro-
tation, until the question is settled by
"For the German counrnn,nnt aaA.