Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-19
U. S. So Tells Germany in Re-
gard to Taking Persons Off
Torpedoed Ships.
NOTE ON THE FRYE CASE
AGREES TO ARBITRATION
Question of Damages Due Will Be
Observation-Disclosures Valves
No Rights.

The United States does not regard an
opportunity to escape in lifeboats as
sufficient safety for the passengers and
crew of any American vessel torpedoed
when carrying contraband of war. This
is shown in the publication of the note
in the case of the American vessel Will
liam p Frye, the document having been
made public by the State Department
The State Department AYERS that this
government is willing to arbitrate with
Germany the question of damages that
should be awarded to the owners of the
Frye. which was sunk by the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich.
The United States, in arbitrating any
of the questions, declares that no
rights shall be waived in the meantime
Germany has assured this government
that, pending arbitration, American
ships carrying conditional contraband
will not be molested. However, nearly
every important article of commerce,
In the line of commodities. is now con-
ira band, and therefore the value of the
German assurances loses weight in the
minds OF many American officials This
government holds that treaties in force
prevent the destruction of American
vessels carrying any kind of contra
while the arbitration proceedings are
In progress more security than mere
ii1eDoat rescues should be given to
passengers and crews on American
vessels. which German naval COM
manders deem necessary to destroy.
Effort to Safeguard Lives.
Without admitting that the declara-
ton of London is in force,'' says the
note, which is signed by Secretary
Lansing, land on the understanding
that the requirement in article 30 of
the declaration that before the vessel
is destroyed all persons on board must
De placed in safety is not satisfied by
merely giving them an opportunity to
escape in lifeboats. the government
OF the United States is willing mend
ing the arbitral award in this case to
accept the declaration of London as the
RUE governing the conduct of the Ger
man government in relation to the
treatment of American vessels carry
ing cargoes of absolute contraband"
In the Frye case, the commander of
Inc Pr1nz Eitel Friedrich took all on
Doard his own vessel When the Lee
lanaw, an American ship carrying alb
soIute contrahand, was destroyed the
crew was taken aboard the submarine
and transferred later to small boats
When near shore. No COMPLAINT has
been made, therefore, as to past treat
neht, Dut an effort is being made to
sa1eguard American lives in the future
Relative to Arbitration.
Concluding, the note saws:
The government of the United States
roncurs in the desire of the imperial
'erman government that the negotia-
ions relative to the signing of the
compromise referring this question of
reaty Interpretation to arbitration
lnder the provisions of article 50 of
ne Hague arbitration convention
mould be conducted between the Ger
nan foreign office and the American
moassy in Berlin, and the government
the United States will be glad to re-
eve the draft compromise which Won
INFORM me the foreign office is prenared
submit to the American ambassador
n Berlin. Anticipating that IL NAV he
convenient for the imperial German
government to know in advance NJ
hese negotiations the preferences NJ
ne government of the United states
to the form of arbitration to he ar
ansed for IN the compromise, my gov
rnment desires me to say that il
would prefer If agreeable to the inn
Periai government, that the arbitration
mould De by summary procedure. based
lpon the provisions of articles sc to an
inclusive. of The Hague arbitra tion
convention, rather than the longer
orm OF arbitration before the perma-
tent court at The Hague"