New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-06
Asks Germany to Settle
Case by Diplomatic
Negotiations.
REAFFIRMS STAND ON
DECLARATION
Admission That Sinking OF Ship
Was Violation of Treaty
Is Accepted.
Hmm N. Trihnne Bur.au. J

washington, May y. ne hiHeEICeh
government in its recent note TO Ger
many on the sinking Of the William z.
Frye by the Prinz Eitel Friedrich re-
jects the offer Of the German govern
ment 70 place the disposition Of the
case in a prize court. Il also rejects
the offer OF the German. government 70
pay for the cargo Of the Frye. and no.
pests its assertion that it does not re-
gard the Declaration OF London as in
forge.
Germarys admission tina. The sink.
ing Of the Frye was q violation Of tho
treaty stipulation between the United
States and Prussia is accepted, and the
suggestion is made that further nego-
tiations be conducted through the Ger
man Embassy here. The note, sent on
April 90, was not made public until to-
day. 1t follows:
Declines Prize Court Offer.
"ln reply to your excellency's note
Of the 18th inst, which the government
of the United States understands ad-
mits the liability of the imperial Ger
man government for the damages re-
sultirg from the sinking of the Amer
lean sailing vessel William P. Frye by
the German auxiliary cruiser Prinz
Eitcl Friedrich on January % last, I
have the honor to say. by direction OF
my government, that while the prompt
ness with which the imperial German
government has admitted its liability
is highly appreciated. my government
feels that it would be inappropriate in
the circumstances OF this case and
would involve unnecessary delay to
adopt the suggestion in your note that
the legality Of the capture and de-
struction. the standing o. the claimants
and The amount OF indemnity should be
submitted 10 a prize court.
"UnGuestionably. the destruction OF
this vessel was a violation Of the cbl-
cations imposed upon the imperial Ger
man government under existing treaty
stipulations between the United States
and Prussia. and the United States gov
eminent. by virtue of its treaty rights,
has presented to the imperial German
government q claim for indemnity on
account Of the resulting damages suf-
fered by American citizens.
Settle by Negotiations"
"The liability of the imperial Ger
man government and the standing of
the claimants as American citizens and
the amount of indemnity are all ques-
tons which lend themselves to diplo
matte negotiations between the two
governments. and happily the question
Of liability has already been settled IN
that way. The status OF the claimants
and the amount of indemnity are the
only questions remaining TO be settled.
and it is appropriate that they should
be dealt with in the same way.
"The government of the United States
States fully understands that. as stated
in your excellency's note, the German
government is liable under the treaty
provisions above mentioned for the
damages arising from the destruction
of the cargo. as well as from the de-
struction of the vessel. But il will be
observed that the claim under discus
sion does not include damages 70: the
destruction of the cargo. and the ques-
ton Of the value of the cargo, there
fore. is not involved in the present dis
cussion.
"The government Of the United States
recognizes that the German government
will wish to be satisfied as to the Amer
lean ownership Of the vessel and the
amount of the damages sustained in
consequence of her destruction.
DISCUSS Case at Washington
These matters are readily ascer-
tainable, and if the German govern
ment desires any further evidence in
substantiation of the claim on these
points, in addition to that furnished
by the ships papers. which are already
in the possession of the German gov
eminent, any additional evidence found
necessary will be produced. In that
- "A n ~