Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-09-16
PAY FOR ARABIC
DEATHS REFUSED
Germany Flatly Rejects Any In
demnity Claim.
REGRETS THE LOSS OF LIFt
Note to American Government Saya
Submarine Commander Was jus
tilted In Action BY Fear
Of Attack.

Berlin tvia Amsterdam). Sept. -
Germany in her note TO the United
States government on the sinking OF
the Arabic expresses regret for the
loss OF American lives. but states pos.
itively that no indemnity for such can
be granted.
The refusal to grant indemnity 10
absolute and will stand even II the
submarine commander should have
been mistaken as to aggressive inten-
tions on the part OF the Arabic.
Following Is the text OF the note,
made public tonight:
On August 10 German submarine
stopped the English steamer Dunsley
about sixteen nautical miles south OF
Kinsale and was on the point OF sink.
ing the prize by gunfire after the
crew had left the vessel. At this mo-
ment the commander saw large
steamer, as developed later. the Ara.
bic She was recognized as an enemy
vessel, as she did not fiy any fiag and
bore no neutral markings.
When she approached she altered
her original course. but then again
pointed directly toward the submarine.
From this the commander became con-
WINGED that the steamer had tho In
tention of attacking and ramming him.
In order to anticipate this attack he
gave orders for the submarine TO dive
and fired D torpedo at the steamer.
After firing he convinced himself that
the people on board were being res.
cued In is boats.
According to his Instructions, the
commander was not allowed to attack
the Arabic without warning and with.
out saving the lives unless the ship at
tempted to escape or offered resist
ance. He was forced. however. to con-
clude from the attendant circam-
stances that the Arabic planned vio-
lent attack on the submarine.
This conclusion is all the more oh.
vious as he had been fired upon al a
great distance In the Irish sea on An.
gust i4--that In, few days before
oy large passenger steamer. appar.
entity belonging to the British Royal
Mail Steam Packet company. which be
had neither attacked nor stopped.
The German government most deep
ly regrets that lives were lost through
the action OF the commander. II par.
ticularly expresses this regret to the
government OF the United States on
account OF the death OF American cIti
zens.
The German government lis unable.
however. to acknowledge any obliga.
ton to grant indemnity In the matter.
even II the commander should have
been mistaken as to the aggressive In.
tentions Of the Arabic.
II II should prove to be the case that
1t is impossible for the German and
American governments to reach bar.
monsous opinion on this point. the Ger.
man government would be prepared to
submit the difference OF opinion. as be.
ing question Of international law. to
The Hague tribunal for arbitration.
pursuant to article SO Of The Hague
convention for the pacific settlement
of International disputes.
In so doing II assumes that as q mat
ter of course the arbitral decision shal.
not be admitted to have the impor,
lance of q general decision on the per
instability or the converse under In,
ternational law. OF German submarine
warfare