Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-06-03
German Foreign Minister An
SWerS American Note.
REPLY NOT INTENDED AS FINAL
Issues involved of Such Importance
That Common Basis of Fact
Should Be Reached.


tare has been made public here. 1t
says in part:
Regarding, firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. The American embassy already
has been informed hat the German
government has no intention Of sub
hitting neutral ships in the war ZOn
which are guilty Of no hostile acts to
attacks by a submarine or submarines
or aviators.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mis-
takes in Identification, it is a question
only of quite isolated and exceptional
cases, which can be attributed to the
British governments abuse of flags,
together with the suspicious or culpa-
ble behavior Of the masters of the
ships.
"The German government in all
cases in which it has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship,
mot inself at fault, was damaged by
~ S'pliio mo VI ofiotoio' 'ho'
expressed regret over the unfortunate
attack and if justified by conditions
has offered indemnitication.
FaIaba Captain Blamed.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba the commander of the German
submarine had the intention of allow
ing the passengers and crew a full
opportunity for a safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the or
der to heave to, but fled and summon
ed help by rocket signals, did the
German commander order the crew
and passengers by signals and mega
phones to leave the ship within ten
minutes. He actually allowed them
t~wenty-three minutes time and fired
the torpedo only when suspicious
craft were fastening to the assistance
of the Falaba.
Regarding the loss OF life by the
sinking of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania the German gov
'ernment already has expressed to the
neutral governments concerned it's
keen regret that citizens of their
states lost their lives.
THE government Of the United
Estates proceeds on the assumption
THAT the Lusitania could be regarded
Jas an ordinary unarmed merchant,
imam. The imperial government al.
iloWs itself, in this connection, to point
out that the Lusitania was one of the
largest and fastest British merchant
tships, built with government funds as
IAN auxiliary cruiser and carried eX-
pressly as such in the navy list is
isued by the admiralty.
Had Mounted Cannon Aboard.
1T is further known to the imperial
government from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passen-
tgers that for a considerable time prac-
:t1cally all the more valuable British
merchantmen have been equipped
with cannon and ammunition and
other weapons and manned with per-
sons who have been specially trained
tin serving guns. The L%usitania, too,
according to information received
here, had cannon aboard, which were
mounted and concealed below decks.
THE imperial government further
has the honor to direct the particular
attention Of the American government
ito the fact that the British admiralty,
lin a confidential instruction issued in
February, 1915, recommended it's
mercantile shipping not only to seek
protection under neutral flags and
distinguishing marks, but also while
thus disguised to attack German sub
marines by ramming.
FINALLY. the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania, on its last trip as on
earlier occasions, carried Canadian
troops and war material. including no
less than 5,400 cases Of ammunition.
Internal Explosion on Liner.
There can be no doubt, according
to the definite report of the subma-
trine's commander, which is further
Confirmed by all other information,
that the quick sinking of the Lust
tania is principally attributable to the
Explosion of the ammunition ship
Iment caused by the torpedo. The Lu-
isitania's passengers would otherwise
PIN all human probability have been
saved.
1"The imperial government, while
withholding it's final decision on the
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking of the Lusitania until re-
ceipt of an answer from the American
government, feels 1mpelled in conclu-
Ision to recall here and now, that it
took cognizance with satisfaction Of
tthe mediatory proposals submitted
by. the United States government to
Berlin aad London as a basis for a
modus vivendi for conducting the
maritime warfare between Germany
and Great Britain. The imperial gov.
+ernment,' by its readiness to enter
upon a discussion OF these proposals.
then demonstrated its good intention
In ample fashion"
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