The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-07-17
GERMANY OFFERS
TO RESPECT FLAG
SUBMARINES WILL BE INSTRUCT.
ED NOT TO FIRE UPON AMERl-
CAN PASSENGER VESSELS.
Plan is Proposed to Allow Reason
able Number of NeutraI Steamers
to Use Stars and Stripes for
Their Protection.


Berlin.-Germany's offer, embodied
In the reply to the United States
note regarding the sinking of the Lu
sitania and submarine warfare, which
was delivered to James w. Gerard,
the ambassador, on July 8, is:
First, reiterated assurance that
American ships engaged in legitimate
trade will not be interfered with nor
the lives of Americans upon neutral
ships be endangered.
| Second, that German submarines
will be instructed to allow American
passenger ships to pass freely ana
safely, Germany entertaining in re-
turn the confident hope that the Amer
lean government will see that these
ships do not carry contraband; such
ships to be provided with distinguish
ing marks and their arrival an
nounced reasonable time in ad
vance.
The same privilege is extended to
reasonable number of neutral pas
senger ships under the American flag
and should the number of ships thus
available for passenger service prove
inadequate, Germany is willing to
permit America to place four hostile
passenger steamers under the Amer
lean flag to ply between North Amer
lea and Europe under the same c,ndi-
tons.
The text of the German note fol-
lows:
Berlin, July 8,
1.-THE undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to his ex.
cellency, Ambassador Gerard to the
note of the 10th ultimo re the impair
ment of American interests by the
German submarine war. The imperial
government learned with satisfaction
from the note how earnestly the gov
eminent of the United States is con
cerned in seeing the principles of hui
mainly realized in the present war
: Also this appeal finds ready echo in
Germany, and the imperial govern
, ment is quite willing to permit its
| statements and decision in the pres
ent case to be governed by the prin
ciples of humanity just as il has done
? always.
Recalls Past Agreements.
1.-THE imperial government welcomed
). with gratitude when the American
government in the note of May 10 it
d self recalled that Germany had al
ways permitted itself to be governet
!, by the principles of progress and hu
:, mainly in dealing with the law o
maritime war; Since the time whel
. Frederick the Great negotiated wit
e John Adams, Benjamin Franklin an
y Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friend
" ship and commerce of September
!. 1885, between Prussia and the reput
Q lie of the west, German and Amer
/, lean statesmen have, in fact, Away
= stood together in the struggle for tn
4 freedom of the seas and for the prt
= lection of peaceable trade. In tn
= International proceedings which sine
have been conducted for the regul;
lie ton of the laws of maritime war, &c
in many and America have jointly adv
Gated progressive principles, especia
ly the adjustment of the right
capture at sea and the protection {
the interests Of neutrals.
VS. Mindful of Neutral Interests.
"Even at the beginning Of the pre-
ne ent war the German government II
"a mediately declared its willingness
GU ratify the declaration of London al
n thereby subject itself in the use OF
naval forces to all the restriction
ID provided therein in favor OF neutral
ad Germany likewise has been always
ng uacious of the principle that W
ng should be conducted against Il
armed and organized forces of an e
envy country, but that the enemy
william population must be spared
far as possible from the measures
es' war. The imperial government CHI
eft lsbes the definite hope that some w
in will be found when peace is conclr
nal ed or perhaps earlier, to regulate 7
to law of maritime war In mann
Mr.. guaranteeing the freedom OF the SCI
oh. and will welcome it with gratitu
ent and satisfaction if it can work ha
=. in hand with the American govel
- ment on that occasion.
Paralyze German Traffic.
'Tf in the present war the princip
which should be the ideal of the
ier' ture have been traversed more a
saw more, the longer its duration, the G.
usi- man government has no guilt there
on It is known to the American COVE
rev ment how Germany's adversaries,
let completely paralyzing peaceful trai
ard between Germany and neutral CO
49,. tries, have aimed from the very
ginning and with increasing lack
consideration, at the destruction,
SO much of the armed forces, as
life of the German nation, repud
ers Ing in doing so all the rules of I'M
be- national law and disregarding all
ants rights Of neutrals.
Incl "On November 8, 1914, England
Or clared the North sea war area
the py planning poorY ancMoiou ~,