The Penn's Grove record., 1915-07-16
NOTE DEEMED
UNSATISFACTORY
Official Washington Perturbed
Over BerIin's Message
SUBMARINE WAR GOES ON
Germany Evades Reference to Lie
billty for Loss Of American
Lives on Lusitania.
SUBMARINE WAR GOES ON


Berlin, (via London).-Germany's
offer, embodied in the reply to the
American note regarding the sinking
OF the Lusitania and submarine war.
fare, which vas delivered to James
w. Gerard, the American Ambassa.
dor is:
First-Reiterated assurance that
American ships engaged in legitimate
trade will not be interfered with, nor
the lives of Americans upon neutral
ships be endangered.
Second-That German submarines
will be instructed to allow American
passenger ships to pass freely and
safely, Germany entertaining in re-
turn the confident hope that the Am
erican Government will see that these
ships dc not carry c~ontraband.
Sitil ships are to be provided with
distinguishing marks and their arrival
announced a reasonable time in ad-
vance. Tn same privilege is extend
ed to "a reasonable number of neutral
passenger ships under the American
flag" and should the number of ships
thus available for passenger service
prove inadequate, Germany is willing
to permit America to place four hos
tile passenger steamers under the
American flag to ply between North
America and Europe under the same
conditions.
PROPOSALS UNSATISFACTORY.
Washington. Though there has
hardly been enough time for close
study Of the German proposals in re-
ply to President Wilson's demands
that the German submarine operations
be conducted in conformity with the
principles of law and humanity, it ap-
peared here that they will prove
wholly unacceptable to the United
States. Little possibility is seen here
of the United States accepting and
acting on suggestions which, as now
understood, are regarded as being In
the nature of a demand for conces-
sions Of right by the United States,
instead of being concessions by Ger
many.
1t has been taken for granted tina.
Germany would not claim the right
to sink American ships engaged in
Legitimate" trade. The German use
of the word Legitimate" in Offering
gagged IN suen american vessels en-
once more indicating an attempt to
reserve the right to attack American
ships carrying ~contraband of war. In
the negotiations in the Frye case the
German Government attempted to put
forth the proposition that it had a
right even under the treaty of 1920
to sink American vessels carrying
contraband of war if that was the
only way available of stopping the
contraband.
Contrary to Wilson's Stand.
The German suggestions for safe
guarding Americans on American pas
senger ships are regarded as unac-
ceptable in that they offer as a conces
sion what the President has main
tanned as an American right. Fur
thermore it is absolutely contrary to
the Presidents position as maintain
ed in the notes to Germany and in
other official documents of the wal in
asking that the United States guar
antee that such American vessels
carry no c~ontraband. One American
line has of its own volition abandoned
the carrying of contraband in order
to stimulate its passenger business
L..A az It'll. Loro L111 &Aok - ~r@,,Ic
be out Of the question for the United
States to agree to this without sacri
icing the rights of Americans to trave
on American vessels carrying contra
band without being exposed to de
struction by German naval forces.
For similar reasons the German sug
gestion that vessels of other countries
may be placed under the American
flag for the purpose of acquiring i'm
munity from attack for American pas
sengers on board is not regarded a!
likely to be seriously considered. Thu
President has maintained the princi
pies set forth in his notes to Germany
as guaranteeing the rights claimed no
to any particular nation but to an!
neutral nation.
The United States, it is declared
Is not seeking special favors at tn
hands of Germany, but only a re
spect for the rights accorded to al
neutrals. Acquiescence in this sug
gestion would be regarded as a self
abridgement of American rights. Tn
same views are declared applicable t
the German suggestion that If neces
sary four belligerent ships may b
placed under the American flags 70
the purpose of providing safe accom-
mediation for American voyagers.
Foreign Owners Might Object.
Finally it is pointed out that owner
81 foreign vessels and foreign Coz
ernments, ~belligerent and neutra
may have views of their own abou
such a proposal and that furthermor
it is not for Germany to say unde
what conditions Americans may travt
10 Europe.
1t is pointed out further that tn
statutes of the United States woul
not permit the use of the America
Il | - - Co-~,o-w $1,000 Ro-.s-