El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-31
LET SAGREE ON
Facts JAG0W
Says Germany Will Respond
Definitely When Common
Basis Is Established.

Berlin Germanz> zfay 3I-Before
giving the United States definite
answer regarding the American de
mands, Germany desires to arrive al
a common understanding of the facts
in the case. said GOttlieb Won Jagow.
imperial German foreign secretary, IN
an Interview given the Associated
Press. He said he hoped the United
States would take the same view
Herr Won JasOw said he had no idea
how the German note would be re-
ceiVed in the United States, since com
municatiOn between the TWO countries
is very limited.
As for the damaging of the Ameri-
can ship Nebraskan he said If a Ger
man torpedo sank the ship the act was
unintentional since submarine com
manders have instructions to safeguard
neutral shipping.
The American note, OF course. leaves
the way open for a preliminary dis
cussion of the subject as suggested IN
the German note 1 hope that such
common basis Of fact, once esta 5Hshed,
may serve as the groundwork for fur
Their communications" JaGow said
Won't Discuss Qualification.
The minister was unwilling TO COM
ment on the suggestion that an ar
rangement might be reached on basis
OF an inspection and certl1lcaton by
the American government of passenger
ships not carrying war cargoes, point
ing out that he did not feel entitled
to anticipate, as the other departments
of the government must be heard be-
fore suggestions could be definitely
taken up or discussed.
Dr. Won Jagow expressed pleasure at
the newspaper announcement that
American line steamers were not car
rying cOntraband, but he suggested the
advisability of experimenting such
newspaD statements by more definite
authoritative announcements.
Places Blame on Britain.
NaHn Al #arnHn
Jagow said that Germany from the
outset had been willing TO abandon her
submarine warfare against merchant
men in response TO a return by Great
Britain TO the regulations Of war in
regard to cOntraband generally, the
specific condition being the lifting Of
the embargo on fOOdstuffs and raw ma
terials now on the lists Of conditional
contraband.
Britain's. he said. that the well-meant
proposals OF the United States for a
compromise failed.
..QucstiOn OF PriHcIpIe.-
The question Of foodstuffs and raw
Materials Dr. Won JagOW said, is not
a question OF necessity for Germany.
but one Of principle Germany has
shown. I think, that it cannot be
starved out by Great Britain's embargo
on foodstuffs.
The same is true Of raw materials
with which according on the London
declaration, belligerents have no right
10 interfere when they are not specif-
ically destined for the armed force Of
an enemy Germany is able 10 get
along, even if the imports OF such ma
terials are cut off Germany, however,
objects TO the cool assumption Of the
British cabinet that when it is unable
to defeat the German armies .egiti-
mately on the battlefield, il is entitled
to try to force the nation 20 its knees
by economic pressure, disregardinS all
accepted preceptS and regulations Of
war Germany Will fight such an I'M
justified method of war with all the
means at her disposal"
NebrHskan Net TOrpedOed by Design.
Dr. Won Jagow said he had absolute
i no information regarding the Amer
lean steamer Nebraskan. which was
damaged by an explosion in the Irish
sea last week, and in the absence OF
any definite news as to whether the
ship was torpedoed or struck a mine.
he declined TO express any opinion as
to the effect Of the incident on the
pending negotiations
The Nebraskan, in any event. Dr.. Won
JagOW said. was not torpedoed with
design by a German submarine The
German policy regarding neutral ship
ping, even in the war zone. had been
enunciated clearly There was no IN
tentiOn Of attacking neutral ships
Is Working I'm Dark.
Are you an Optimist or a pessimist
regarding the German-American situa-
uon-- the correspondent asked as ne
was taking his leave Of the foreign
minister.
How can I tell you how our note
VIII be -receivedE' replied Dr. Won ia
gov I have no means of cOmmuui-
eating with the ambassador at Wash
ingtOn, or of gazing public sentiment
Wireless communication is limited and
rather unsatisfactory There are no
means for cabling. and the open wire
less messages we are sending are read
or interfered with by British stations