Milford chronicle., 1915-05-14
GERMANY WILL
SPARE NEUTRALS
Outlines Policy Toward Non.
BGIIigerent Craft.
IS LAID BEFORE CABINET
President and His Advisers Also Con
sidered Dernburg's Status and Put
It Up to Won 5ernstorff.

It Up to Won 5ernstorff.
Germany through Ambassador Gel
ard, notified the United States tina
submarine commanders had been spe
cifcally instructed not to harm neu
tral vessels not engaged in hostile
acts; and that Germany would pay
for damages to such ships in the wal
zone.
Neutral ships carrying contraband
will be dealt with, the announcement
says, according to the rules of naval
warfare. If neutral ships are acci
dentally damaged in the war zone
Germany will express its regrets and
pay damages without prize court pro
ceedings.
The German government justifies its
submarine warfare on the grounds
that England is threatening to starve
the civilian population of Germany by
prohibiting neutral commerce in food
stuffs and other necessaries.
In previous communications Ger
many has disclaimed responsibility
for any harm that might befall neu
trail vessels yenturing into the wal
zone.
The text of the announcement ca
bled by Mr.. Gerard, which was issued
by the Berlin foreign office in the form
OF circular, follows:
"First-The imperial German gov
ernment naturally has no intention oi |
causing to be attacked by submarine. (
or air craft such neutral ships Of com |
merce in the zone OF naval warfare .
or definitely described in the notice OF
the German admiralty staff Of Feb. 4th |
last, as have been guilty of no hostile
act. On the contrary most definite in
strucuons repeatedly have been is
sued to German war vessels to avoid
attacks on such ships under all cir
cumstances. Even when such ships
have cOntraband of war on board
they are dealt with by submarines
solely according to the rule Of inter
fare.
"Two-Should a neutral ship never
theless come to harm through German
submarines or air craft on account O
an unfortunate (Omitted word in the
above mentioned zone of naval war
tare the German government will un
reservedly recognize its responsibility
therefor. In such case it will eX
press its regrets and afford damages
without first instituting prize cOuri
action.
"Three-It is the custom of the Ger
man government as soon as the sink
ing of a neutral ship in the above men
toned zone OF naval warfare is ascrib
ed to German war vessels to institute
an immediate investigation into the
cause. If grounds appear thereby tC
be given for association of such
hypothesis, the German navy places ,
tself in communication with the in
crested neutral government so thai
he latter may also institute an inves
igation. ]
''If the German government is there !
~ convinced that the ship has beer
destroyed by German war vessels il j
vii not delay in carrying out the pro ]
'isions of paragraph two above. IL i
rary to the viewpoint of the neutra
government, is not convinced by the
esult of the investigation the Ger \
nan government has also already or
eyeral occasions declared itself ready
o allow the question to be decided by
n international investigation commits q
ion, according to chapter three o. n
he Hague convention of Oct. is a
9O7, for the peaceful solution of In n
7rnational disputes"
This communication was laid before
ne cabinet, which held its first ses 81
ion since the Lusitania's sinking.
Despite the uniform refusal of al N
le cabinet officers to discuss wha K
)ok place at the meeting, it also be
lme known that one subject of dis
Ission was DR.. Bernhard Dernburg
,rmer German colonial secretary, ant G
)metimes spoken of as Emperor vii
ANS unofficial spokesman in the
nited States. "a
DR.. Dernburg's speeches were re IN
rred to- it was understood, and his Ia
ost recent utterances in Cleveland 81
i'd New York justifying the torpedo
g of the Lusitania were mentioneo IN
: at least one member of the cabi an
It. Although the German embassy co
ON time to time has stated that DR. ti'
srnburg has no connection with it m
d that he is in the United States as De
e representative of the German Rec OF
oss, the state department never has ag
en- officially advised of his status re
d in view of his prominence and the
Eight of his utterances it was being to
ggested in official quarters that il as
ght not be unusual if the state de co
rtment were to inquire of Count von al
rnstorff of his standing. So far DR. me
rnburg is regarded as a traveller I'M
d a guest OF the United States.