The weekly soliphone., 1915-07-16

 American ambassador, last night is:
 First reiterated assurance that American ships en- gagged in legitimate trade will not be nerfered with nor the lives of Americans upon neutral ships be endanger- ed.
 Second that German submarines will be instruct ed to allow American passenger ships to pass freely and safely Germany entertaining in return the confident hope that the American government will see that these ships do not carry contraband such ships to be provided with distinguishing marks and their arrival announced reasonable time in advance The same privilege IS ex- tended to reasonable number of neutral ships under the American flag and should the number of ships thus available for passenger service prove inadequate Ger many is willing to permit America to place four hostile passenger steamers under the American flag to ply be- tween North America and Europe under the same con- ditions
 Here l. Full Text of Berns Note; Rests Case Prnc
 ples of Humanity.
 The text of the note follows:
 Berlin, July 8.-The undersigned has the honor to make the following reply to his excelency Ambassador Gerard to the note of the 10th ult the impairment of American interest by the Greman submarine 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 realz ed in the present Also this appeal finds ready echo in Germany and the imperial government quite willing premt it's statements and decisions in the pres ent case to be governed by the principles of humanity just as it has done always.
 "The imperial government welcomed with grat- ude when the American government in the note of May Is itself recalled that Germany had always permitted it. self to be governed by the principles progress and h manity in dealing with the law of maritime
 Since the time when Frederick the Great negOtlat- ed with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friendship and commerce of September g. 1785, 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 and for the protection of peaceabe trade In the international proceedings which since have been ducted for the regulation of the laws of maritime war; Germany and America have jointly advocated progress sve principles especially the abolishmen of the right of capture at and the protection of the interests of trals.
 Germany Tenacious of Principle That War Should Be
 Against Armed Forces.
 "Even at the beginning of the present the Ger man government immediately declared its willingness response to proposals of the American government to ratfy the declaration of London and thereby subject it. self in the use of it's naval forces to all the restrictions crowded therein in favor of neutrals. Germany like wise has been always tenacious of the principle that should be conducted against the armed and organized forces of enemy country but that the enemy civilian population must be spared far possible from the measures of
 "The imperial German government cherishes the definite hope that way will be found, when peace is concluded perhaps earlier to regulate the law of maritime in manner guaranteeing the freedom of the seas and will welcome 1t with gratitude and satis faction if it work hand in hand with the American government on that occasion.
 If in the present the principles which should be the ideal of the future have been aversed more and more, the longer its duraton the German government has guilt therein It is known to the American gov- ernment how Germanys adversaries, by completely paralyzng peaceable traffic between Germany and ner tra countries have aimed from the very beginning and with increasing lack Of consideration at the destruction not much of the armed forces the life of the Ger nation, repudiating in doing so all the rules of in ternatona law and disregarding all the rights of ne tras
 'On November 3, 1914, England declared the North sea war area and by planting poorly anchored mines and by the stoppage and capture of vessels made pas sage extremely dangerous and difficult for neutral ship ping that by actually bockad- Ing English in all international house beginning