South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-10
THE GERMAN REPLY


BERLIN, July S.-Undersigned has
the honor to make the following re-
ply to his excelIency, Ambassador
Gerard 10 the note Of the 10th ultimo
regarding the impairment of Amer
lean interests by the German subma-
rine war. The imperial government
learned with satisfaction from the
note how earnestly the government
of the United States is concerned in
seeing the principles of humanity re-
allied in the present war. Also this
appeal finds ready echo in Germany
and the imperial government Is quite
willing TO premit its statements and
decisions in the nresent case to be
governed by the principles of human
ity. just as it has done always.
Germany Humane.
The imperial government welcom-
ed with gratitude when the American
government in the note of May Is, it
self recalled that Germany had always
permitted itself to be governed by the
principles of progress and humanity
in dealing with the law OF maritime
war.
Since the time when Freedrick the
Great negotiated with John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
fersOn the treaty of friendship and
commerce of Sept. 8, 1885, between
Prussia and the republic of the west,
German and American statesmen have
in fact always stood together in the
struggle for the freedom of the seas
and the protection Of peaceful trade
In the international proceeding since
which have been conducted for the
regulation 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 in
teTeSts of neutrals.
Cites Declaration of London.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German government i'm
mediately declared its willingness in
response to proposals of the Am erican
government to ratify the declaration
Of London and thereby subject itself
in the use of its naval forces TO all
the restrictions provided therein in
favor OF neutrals.
Germany likewise has been always
tenacious of the principle that the war
should be conducted against the arm
ed 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 cherishes
the definite hope that some way will
be found when peace is concluded 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.
Germany Has No Guilt
If in the present war the principles
which should be the ideal of the fu
ture have been traversed more and
more. the longer its duration the Ger
man government has no guilt therein.
1t is known to the American gov
eminent how Germany's adversaries
/ by completely paralyzing peaceable
traffic between Germany and neutral
countries have aimed from the very
/ beginning and with increasing lack
OF consideration at the destruction,
not so much Of the armed forces, as
the life Of the German nation, re-
( pudiating in doing so all the rules of
/ international law and disregarding
all rights of neutrals.
on Nov 3. 1914, England declared
the North sea a war area and by
planting poorly anchored mines and
nv the stOppage and capture of YES
I sells made passage extremely danger
Gus and difficult for neutral shipping.
so (bv) actually blockading neutral
coasts and ports contrary 10 all inter
national law Long before the begin
ming OF submarine war England prac-
tically completely intercepted legiti-
mate neutral navigation 10 Germany
i also. Thus Germany was driven TO a
submarine war on trade
on Nov. i. 1914, the English pre-
mier declared in the house OF com
mons that il was one Of England
principal tasks 10 prevent food FOR
the German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March England has been taking from
I neutral ships without further formal
7 ity all merchandise proceeding 20
/ Germany, as we'll as all merchandise
coming from Germany. even wher