The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-07-16

had been spared, thousands of cases OF
munitions would have been sent to
Germany's enemies and thereby thou.
sands of German mothers and children
robbed of bread winners.
Americans in Neutral Ships Safe.
I'm the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm.
bued toward the Union and Its inhabi
tants since the earliest days of its ex.
istence, the imperial government will
always be ready to do all it can during
the present war also to prevent the
jeopardizing Of lives of American citi.
zens. The imperial government, there.
fore, repeats the assurance that Amer
lean ships will not be hindered in the
prosecution Of legitimate shipping and
the lives Of American citizens in neu.
trail vessels shall not be placed in jeo.
pardy.
Special Markings for Steamers.
''1n order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view of the con.
duct Of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by special
markings and notified reasonable
time in advance. The imperial govern.
ment, however, confidently hopes that
the American government will assume
| to guarantee that these vessels have
no contraband on board, details Of ar.
rangement for the unhampered pas,
sage of these vessels to be agreed
| upon by the naval authorities on both
sides.
"In order to furnish adequate facili.
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German govern.
ment submits for consideration pro
posal to increase the number of availa
BILE steamers by installing in passenger
service a reasonable number of neutral
steamers under the American flag, the
exact number to be agreed upon under
the same condition as the above men.
toned American steamers.
Adequate Facilities Promised.
"The imperial government believes
1t can assume that in this manner ade-
quate facilities for travel across the
Atlantic can be afforded American citi-
zens. There would, therefore, appear
to be no compelling necessity for
American citizens to travel in Europe
in time of war on ships carrying an
enemy flag. In particular, the imperial
government Ia unable to admit that
American citizens can protect an ene-
my ship through the mere fact of their
presence on board.
Germany merely followed England s
example when she declared part Of the
high seas an area of war. Consequent
ly, accidents suffered by neutrals on
we'll be Judged differently from acci-
dents to which neutrals are at all
| times exposed at the seat OF war ON
| land when they betake themselves in
to dangerous localities in spite of prev
ious warnings. II, however, it should
not be possible for the American gov.
| ernment to require an adequate num-
ber of neutral passenger steamers, the
| imperial government is prepared to in.
terpose no objections to the placing un-
der the American flag by the American
government of four enemy passenger
| steamers for passenger traffic between
North America and England. Assur.
ances of free and safe passage for
American passenger steamers would
extend to apply under the identical
pro-conditions to these formerly hostile
passenger steamers.
Hopes for Understanding.
"The President Of the United States
has declared his readiness, in a way
deserving of thanks, to communicate
and suggest proposals to the govern.
ment of Great Britain with particular
reference to the alteration of maritime
war The imperial government will
always be glad to make use of the
good offices of the President and hopes
that his efforts in the present case, as
we'll as in the direction of the lofty
| ideal of the freedom of the seas, will
lead to an understanding.
The undersigned requests the am
bassador to bring the above to the
knowledge of the American govern
ment and avails himself of the oppor
tunity to renew to his eXcellency the
assurance of his most distinguished
consideration.
(Signed) won JAGOW.'