The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-11

The text or the German more wac
received by cable saturday morning
too late 20 appear in the early fnail
edition OF the yirEinian. For those
OF its readers who did not secure
COPY of the second edition the note Is
here reprinted. The text OF the note
follows:
"perIln, July s.--The text of the
German note follows
ssThe undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to His EN-
ceiiency. Ambassador Gerard, to the
note the tenth ultimo re the impair
ment of American interests by the
German submarine war;
1.-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 realized in
the present war Also this appeal
finds ready echo In Germany, and the
Imperial government is quite willing
10 permit its statements and decisions
in the present case to be governed by
the principles Of humanity just as
1t has done always.
THE Imperial government well
coined with gratitude when the
American government. in the note of
had always permitted itself to be gov
erned by the principles Of progress
and humanity in dealing with the law
OF maritime var.
For Freedom Of Seas.
s "Since the time when Frederick the
Great negotiated with John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
fersoa the treaty of Friendship and
Commerce of September ., 1885. be-
tween Prussia and the republic of the
west, Germany and American states
men have. in fact, always stood to-
gether In the struggle Sor the free
dom OF the seas. and for the protection
of peaceable trade.
I'm the international proceedings
which since have been conducted for
the regulation of laws of maritime
war, Germany and America have joint
iy advocated progressive principles,
especially the adjustment of right
to capture. at sea, and the protection
Of the interests of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German government i'm
mediateIy declared it's willingness. In
response to proposals If the American
Government TO ratify the declaration
of London and thereby subject itself
in the use of its naval forces TO all
the Restrictions provided therein of
neatrais.
Germany. likewise. has been al
ways tenacious of the principle that
war should be conducted against .he
armed and organized forces of an en-
envy country. but that the enemy civil
population must be spared as far as
possible from the measures of war.
The Imperial Government cherishes
the definite hope that some way will
q be found when peace r. coucivdsd, or
perhaps earlier. to regulate the law
Of maritime war In a manner guar
nnteeing the freedom OF the seas. and
will welcome Ii with gratitude and
and satisfaction IL ii can work hand
In hand with the American Govern
ment on that occasion
Germany In Gmaftlena.
III n In the present war the, principles
which should be the ideal of the future
have been trzversed more and more,
the longer It's duration. tho German
government has no guilt therein. IT 10
known to the American governme emit
how 0ermany's adyersaries. by COM
pletsiy paralyzing peaceabio trafrac be-
tween Germany and neutral countries
have aimed from the very beginning
and with increasing lack OF constdera-
tion at the destruction. not 30 much 10
The armed forces ~ the life Of the
German nation. repudiating in doing
- all the rules of international IAr
and disreg ardins all rights OF neutraIs.
On November .. 1914. England de-
rlared the North Sea a war area, and
Nv planting poorly anchored mines
and by the stoppage and capture Of
vesssls. made passage extremely dan
earo0s ana difiicult for neutral ship
ping and th3t actually biecka ding
neutral coasts and porta contrary to
7 I'll international law. Long before the
4 begining Of submarine war. England
Drncttca1ly completely intercepted legi-
dmafe neutral navigation to Germany
{ also. thus Germany was driven to a
Submarine war on trade.
DUTY TO starve Out Germany.
On November IA. 1914. the English
premier declared in the House OF
Eommons that II was one OF Eng
\ lands principal tasks 20 prevent food
FOR the German population from
rNadlning Germany VIA neutral poets.
4 Hlnce March / England itas IbSen
~ king from neutral ships without
81 further formaiity all merchandise pro-
.eeding TO Germany, as we'll as all
l5terchAndise coming from Germany.
wen when neutral property, Just II
- also with the Beers. the German
aae0pl4 IL now TO be given the choice
S0f pAr1shing from starvation with its
somen and children or of relinquish-
ssslh9 IL independence
while our enemies thus loudly and
ponly proclaimed war without mercy
81 NTH our utter destruction, we were
1sScting q war in self-defense for
# St national existence and for the
g 37ke 81. peace of an assured perman-
40. We have been obliged to adopt
I s nnbmarine warfare to meet the de-
tlred intentions OF our enemies and
~ method OF warfare adopted by
a1m in contravention of information
SSgt Iaw.
za HaCngnized Neasxrnls Would suffer
ygth all its efforts In principle TO
sgsxe4ect neutral life and, property from
Amage as much ~ possible, the Ger
X$an government recognized unre-
II Arvedly In It's memorandum OF Febru-
#XFy I that the interests OF neutrais
3feAt suffer from the submarine war
34ra. However. the American govern
a&3ent VIII also understand and appre-
sa34 that In the hgns for existence,
3&fch has been forced upon Germany
fsY ~ .advsrsaries and announced by
an. II II the sacred duty Of the I'm
& SS1a1 government to 40 nj within its
E 5SEers 70 protect and savs the lives OF
"A 1elnan subtecta II tn Imperial
= roFnment were dereliex In these
111oe e would be guilty before God