The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-11
STILL INSISTING
SHE DID RIGHT
CONTINUED from page

! German government has no gum
therein II is known to the American
| government how Germany's adVersal'
| les. by completely paralyzlng peace
| able traffic between Germany anu
! neutral countries, have aimed rom
/ the beginning and with 1ncreaslns
lack of consideration, at the destruc.
tion. not so much of the arineu
forces as the life OF the German ma
| tion. repudiating in doing so. all the
rnles of international law and disre-
garding all the rights OF neutrals.
! .The case of the Lusitania SHOWS
with horrible clearness, to what jeop'
ardizing of human lives the manner
! of conducting war employer py oo.
adyersaries leads. In the most dlree,
contradiction Of international law, an
distinctions between merchahtiEeI
and war vessels have been ophtelateh
bv the order to British merchan,Heh
to arm themselves and ram suDhia-
rines, and the promise Oh reWafus
therefor, and neutrals who use Her-
chantmen as travellers, thereby nave
been exposed in an increasing aesfee
to all dangers OF war.
"If the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lnsl-
laQla ndu CduSSu IhC Wv"
sengers to take to the boats before
firing a torpedo, this would have
meant the sure destruction of his own
vessel After the experiences in
sinking much smaller and less sea
worthy vessels, it was to be expected
that mighty ship like the Lusftanla
would remain above water long
enough after the torpedoing to permit
passengers to enter the ships boats.
Circumstances Of very peculiar
kind, especially the presence On boaro
of large quantities OF highly explo-
siye materials dissipated this expec-
tation. In addition it may be pointed
out that If the Lusitania had been
spared, thousands Of cases OF NUM-
lions would have been sent to Ger
many's enemies, and thereby thous-
ands of German mothers and chill
dren robbed Of bread-wfnners.
'In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been I'M
bued towards the union and Its IN
habitants since the earliest days OF
its existence, the imperial govern
ment will always be ready to do all
it can during the present war also to
prevent the jeopardizing of lives OF
American citizens. The Imperial
government. therefore, repeats the
assurances that American ships will
not be hindered In the prosecution OF
legitimate shipping and the Ives OF
American citizens in neutral vessels
shall not be placed in Jeopardy.
I'm order to exclude any unfore-
seen dangers to American passenger
steamers made possible in view OF
the conduct of maritime war by Ger
many's adversaries, German subma-
rines will be instructed to permit the
free and safe passage of such pas
senger steamers when made recog-
nizable by special markings and not1-
fed a reasonable time in advance.
The imperial government, however,
confidently hopes that the American
government will assume to guaran-
tee that these vessels have no con-
traband on board, details OF arrange
ment for the unhampered passage OF
these vessels to be agreed upon by
the naval authorities Of both sides.
.In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German gov
eminent submits for consideration, a
proposal to increase the number of
available steamers by installing in
passenger service reasonable num-
Der of neutral steamers under the
American flag. the exact number to
be agreed upon under the same con-
dition as the above mentioned Ameri-
can steamers.
"The imperial government believes
it can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across
the Atlantic ocean can be afforded
American citizens. There would,
therefore, appear to be no compelling
necessity for American citizens to
travel to Europe in time Of war on
ships carrying an enemy flag. In
particular, the imperial government
is unable to admit that American citi-
gems can protect an enemy ship
through the mere fact Of their pres
ence on board.
Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared
part OF the high sea area of war. Con-
sequently, accidents suffered by neu-
trails on enemy ships in this area or
war cannot well be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrals are
at all times exposed at the seat OF
war on land. when they betake them
selves into dangerous localities in
spite OF previous warnings IL, now
ever, It should not be possible for
the American government to require
an adequate number of neutral pas
senger steamers, the imperial govern
ment IS prepared to interpose no OBJ
lection to the placing under the
American flag by the American gov
eminent OF four enemy passenger
steamers for passenger traffic be-
tween North America and England.
Assurances of free and safe pass
age for American steamers would ex-
tend to apply under the identical pro-
conditions to these formerly hostile
passenger steamers.
The president Of the United
States has declared his readiness. IN
a. way deserving Of thanks. to com.
municate and suggest proposals to
the government of Great Britain
with particular reference to the al
teration of maritime war The i'm
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