Middletown transcript., 1915-07-17

pedoing 10 permit passengers to enter
the ships boats. Circumstances of q
very peculiar kind especially the pres
ence on board Of large quantities Of
highly explosive materials (word omit
ted, possibly "dissipated") this ex-
pectation. In addition, 1t may bs
pointed out that If the Lusitania had
been spared thousands Of cases Of am
munition would have been sent to Ger
many's enemies and thereby thousands
Of German mothers and children
robbed Of bread winners.
I'm the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been im-
bued toward the Union and its in
habitants since the earliest days Of
its 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.
Wants Distinguishing Marks.
"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 ad-
versaries. German submarines will be
instructed to permit the free and safe
passage Of such passenger steamers
when made recognizable by special
markings and notified a reasonable
time in advance. The Imperial Gov
ernment, however, confidently hopes
that the American Government will
assume to guarantee that these YES
sells have no contraband on board, de-
tails Of arrangement for the unham-
pered passage of these vessels to be
agreed upon by the naval authorities
: of both sides.
"In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
5 American citizens the German Govern
! ment submits for consideration a pro-
I posal to increase the number Of avail
able steamers by installing in passen-
e ger service a reasonable number Of
. neutral steamers under the American
= flag, the exact number to be agreed
upon under the same condition as the
above mentioned American steamers.
+ U. s. Citizens Cannot Protect Ships
. OF BeIIigerents.
;. 1.-THE Imperial Government believes
h 1t can assume that in this manner ade-
J.. quate facilities for travel across the At
Y lantic Ocean can be afforded Ameri-
:. can citizens. There would, therefore,
+ appear to be no compelling necessity
| for American citizens to travel to Eu-
h rope in time of war on ships carrying
Y an enemy flag. In particular the I'm
q perial Government is unable to admit
/ that American citizens can protect an
|. enemy ship through the mere fact Of
their presence on board.
Germany merely followed England's
example when she declared part Of the
high sea an area Of war. Consequently,
+ accidents suffered by neutrals on en-
! emy ships in this area Of war cannot
well be judged differently from acci-
Il dents to which neutrals are at all times
{ exposed at the seat Of war on land
{ when they betake themselves into dan
Il gerous localities in spite Of previous
: warnings.
"If however, It should not be possible
for the American Government to &C
y quire an adequate number Of neutral
passenger steamers. the Imperial Gov
ernment is prepared to interpose no OBJ
" | % H. ,Io al h.
lean flag by the American Government
! Of four enemy passenger steamers fol
" passenger traffic between North Amer
II lea and England. Assurances Of fret
II and safe passage for American pas
III senger steamers would extend to apply
's under the identical pro-conditions t.
~ these formerly hostile passenger steam
~ ers.
,e Asks Good Offices OF Wilson.
In 1.-THE President of the United State
e- has declared his readiness, in a wa!
Of deserving of thanks, to communicate
ty and suggest proposals to the Govern
a. ment of Great Britain with particula
reference to the alteration Of martini
war. The Imperial Government will
VS. always be glad to make use Of the goo
d. Offices of the President and hopes tina
m. his efforts in the present case, as wei
ar as in the direction of the lofty ideal O
m. the freedom of the seas, will lead to a,
Is. understanding.
nd 1.-THE undersigned requests the An
nv bassador to bring the above to tn
IN knowledge Of the American Govern
90 ment and avails himself of the oppo
mr. tunity to renew to his Excellency tn
as assurance of his most distinguishe
IN consideration.
srs 'Von Jagow."