The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-07-23

distinctions between merchantmen and
war vessels have been obliterated By
the order to British merchantmen t.
arm themselves and to ram subma
rines, and the promise of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer
chantmen rs travellers thereby have
been exposed In an increasing degree
to all the dangers of war.
Might Have Destroyed Submarine.
''If the commander of the German
submarine. which destroyed the Lust
tania had caused the crew and passen-
gers to take to the boats before firing
the torpedo, this would have meant
the sure destruction of his own vessel.
After the experience in sinking much
smaller and less seaworthy vessels, 1t
was to be expected that a mighty ship
like the Lusitania would remain above
| water long enough even after the tor
pedoing to permit passengers to enter
the ships boats. Circumstances of .
very peculiar kind, especially the pres
ence on board of large quantities of
highly explosive materials, defeated
this expectation. In addition, 1t 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 bread winners.
Americans in Neutral Ships Safe.
I'm the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm.
| bued toward the Union and its inhabi-
tants since the earliest days of it's ex-
istence, the imperial government will
always be ready to do all 1t can during
the present war also to prevent the
jeopardizing of lives of American citi-
zens. The imperial government, there
fore, repeats the assurance that Amer
lean ships will not be hindered in the
prosecution of legitimate shipping and
the lives of American citizens in neu-
trail vessels shall not be placed in jeo-
pardy.
Special Markings for Steamers.
''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 special
markings and notified a reasonable
time In advance. The imperial govern
ment, however, confidently hopes that
the American government will assume
to guarantee that these vessels have |
Y1n truh on I'd dofo ~
rangement for the unhampered pas
sage Of these vessels to be agreed |
upon by the naval authorities on both |
sides.
"In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German govern
ment submits for consideration a pro-
posal to increase the number of ayaila-
Bile steamers by installing In passenger
service reasonable number of neutral
steamers under the American flag, the
exact number to be agreed upon under
the same condition as the above men
toned American steamers.
Adequate Facilities Promised.
1.-THE imperial government believes
It can assume that In this manner ade-
quate facilities for travel across the
Atlantic can be afforded American citi-
zens. There would, therefore, appear
TO be no compelling necessity for
American citizens to travel in Europe
n time of war on ships carrying an
enemy flag. In particular, the imperial
government is unable to admit that
American citizens can protect an enc
ny ship through the mere fact of their
presence on board.
Germany merely followed England's
when she declared part of the
ugh seas an area of war. Consequent
y, accidents suffered by neutrals on
nemy ships in this area Of war cannot
veil be judged differently from acct
ents to which neutrals are at all
lines exposed at the seat of war on
and when they betake themselves in
D dangerous localities in spite Of prev
BUS warnings. If, however, it should
ot be possible for the American gov
to require an adequate num-
er of neutral passenger steamers, the
nperial government is prepared to in
srpose no objections to the placing I'M
er the American flag by the American
overnment OF four enemy passenger
teamers for passenger traffic between
Iorth America and England. Assur-
noes OF free and safe passage for
merican passenger steamers would
ktend to apply under the identical
to these formerly hostile g
assenger steamers.
Hopes for Understanding. q
1.-THE President of the United States s
as declared his readiness, in way
Of thanks, to communicate r
nd suggest proposals to the govern 8
ent Of Great Britain with particular :,
,ference to the alteration of maritime
ar. The imperial government will +
ways be glad to make use of the h
BOD offices of the President and hopes +,
at his efforts in the present case, as =
ell as In the direction of the lofty =
cal of the freedom of the seas, will !.
ad to an understanding. =
1.-THE undersigned requests the am
lssador to bring the above to the