The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-07-23
KAISER REFUSES
DEMANDS OF U. S.
INTIMATE THAT AMERICANS ON
NEUTRAL SHIPS ONLY
ARE SAFE.
SHOULD KEEP OFF ENEMIES SHIPS
"lmperiaI Government Has Cherished
Human Tactios-Food Blockade Was
Begun BY English War order-Eng-
lands Policy Held Responsible For
Lustania."


Berlin, July 9.-via London, July 10
The text of the German reply to
the American note regarding the Lusi-
tania and other incidents as made
public here today, follows:
''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 i'm
pairment 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 hu.
mainly realized in the present war.
Also this appeal finds ready echo in
Germany and the imperial government
is quite willing to permit its state
ments and decisions in the present
case to be governed by the princi-
pies of humanity, Just as it has
done always.
"The imperial government welcom.
ed with gratitude when the American
government in the note OF May Is
itself recalled that Germany had al
ways permitted itself to be governed
by the principles of progress and hui
manity in dealing with the law OF
maritime war Since the time when
Frederick the Great negotiated with
John Adams Benjamin Franklin ard
Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friend
ship and commerce of September,
1885, between Prussia and tie repub.
lie of the west, German and American
statesmen have, in fact, always stood
together in the struggle for the free.
dom of the seas and for the protection
of peaceable trade, In the interna.
tional proceedings which since have
been conducted for the regulation of
the laws of maritime war, Germany
and America have jointly advocated
progressive principles, especially the
adjustment of the right of capture at
sea and the protection of the interests
of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German government i'm
mediately declared its willingness in
response to proposals of the American
government to ratify the Declaration
of London and thereby subject itself
in the use of naval forces to all the
restrictions provided therein in favor
of neutrals. Germany likewise has
been always tenacious of the principle
that war should be conducted against
the armed and organized forces of an
enemy country, but that the enemy
civilian population must be spared as
far as possible from the measures OF
war. The Imperial government cher
ishes the definite hope that some way
will be found when peace is conducted,
or perhaps earlier, to regulate the law
of maritime war in a manner guaran-
teeing the freedom of the seas and
will welcome it with gratitude and
satisfaction If it can work hand in
hand with the American government
on that occasion
"If in the political war the prin
ciples which should be the ideal OF
the future have been traversed more
and more, the longer its duration, the
German government has not guilt
therein. 1t is known to the American
government how Germany's adversar
les, by completely paralyzing peace
able traffic between Germany ant
neutral countries, have aimed from
the very beginning and with increas
ing lack of consideration at the de
struction not so much of the armed
forces as the life of the German ma
ton, repudiating in doing so all tn,
rules of international law and disre
garding all the rights of neutrals.
"On November 3, 1914, Englant
declared the North Sea a war are
and by planting poorly anchors
mines and by the stoppage and cal
ture Of vessels, made passage extreme
ly dangerous and difficult for neutra
shipping, thereby actually blockadin
neutral coasts and ports contrary t
all international law Long befor
the beginning of submarine warfaT
England practically completely int
ceptsd legitimate neutral navagatio
to Germany also Thus Germany wa
driven to a submarine war on trad
On November Il, 1914, the En-
fish premier declared in the hou,
of commons that it was one of En-
lands principal tasks to prevent foe
for the German population from reac
ing Germany via neutral ports. Sim
March / England has been taking fro
neutral ships without further formi
ity all merchandise proceeding
~.~oo-~o-o~~~-o-~
How He Did II.
m. Iaoir ~ Dandin wacn't tho aOi