The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-05-06
Says Germany's Liability in
Sinking American Vessel
Already Settled.
DECLARATION OF
LONDON NOW VOID
Advises German Govern
ment it Does Not Consider
it Longer in Force.
~ AssocIATED 80

washington. Nay a.--The text Il TIE
American note 70 Germany declining
the suggestion that reparatiou for the
sinking ot the America sailing ship
William p. Frye by tine converted
cruiser prsnz Eitel Friedrich - made
through q German priEe court and re-
iteFatinE the Representations Tor Tn
dsmnlty was made public today hy the
state department. ft already has been
presented 90 the Berlin foreign odicn
BY Ambassador Gerard a. follows
In reply 60 Your ENceiIency.s note
~ the attn instant. whlch the gov-
eminent Of the United states under
stands admits the liability 81 the Ina
perisI German government Tor the
damages resulting from the sinking @
the American sailing vessel William
y. FRYE by tia German auxiliary
cruiser Prinz Eltel Friedrich en- Jan
nary IS last. ] have the honor 20 say.
b. direction % my government thai
while the promptneHs with which the
Imperial German government has ad-
mitted tie liability ie highly appre-
ciated ms government feels that Il
would Re inappropriate in the circum-
stances ~ this case and would in-
volve unnecessary dalag "a ndopt ths
suggestion Ia vaur nnfe that tha le-
Rallty ~ the capture and destruction
the standing 81 the claimants and thu
amount q Indemnity should BE sub.
mitted 90 prize court
VIOLATED OBLIGATIONS.
@UnqHestiunably the destruction al
this vessel vas q violation OF the OBJ
/ legations imposed upon the Tmperia.
German government uuder exiatins
treaty stipulations between the Uuitet
States and Prussia and the Unite
7 states government By virtue ~ 60.
treaty rights has presented 90 the I'm.
perial German government a claim foi
indemnity on account OF rasuitln.
damages suffered by American ciu
zens.
The liability 81 the Imperial Ger
man government and the standing d
I the claimants as American citizens
and the amount 81 Indemnity. ars ID
questions which lend themselves 20 dip.
/ lomauc negotiations between the twI
governments and happily the question
/ 81 liability has already been settled d
that way. The status of the claim
ants and the amount of indemnity. ar
I the ory questions remaining 70 b
settled and u "a appropriate that thel
should be dealt with N the same was
The government ~ the Cnitel
states fully understands 50 stated q
Your ExceIieucyB note. the Germal
government e liable under the treat
prov sfona above mentioned Tor th
damages arising erom the destruction
of the cargo az well as from the de
struction 81 tire vessel but it viii b
observed that the claim Under discus
sion does not include damages Tor "a
destruction 81 the cargo. and the cues
tion of the value Of the cargo therefor
e. not involved IN the present discus
sion
I'm view a. the admission ~ ia
7 hHity ny reason - specific treaty stlp
lulaHans. So has become unnecessary {
enter into q discussion of the neanln
and effect ~ the declare ton ~ Lon
don. which is given some promiuenc
On your axcsllency's note of April 5tl
further thar e sag that a. IA
German government afreaay has bee
. advised t.e government az the Unite
states does not reEarc tne deelaratio
lof London as On force