The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-16

OFFERS IMMUNITY FOR pAssEN-
GER VESSELS ENGAGED IN
LEGITIMATE TRADE.
The Same Policy viii be Extended to
Reasonable Number OF Neutral
Passenger Ships Under the
American Flag.

NHtSff~aH ffA8s
Berlin. The reply of the imperial
government to the American note re-
garding the sinking OF the Lusitania,
was delivered to Ambassador James
w. Gerard on July 8.
The text OF the note follows:
Berlin, July s.
1.-THE undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to his ex-
cellency, Ambassador Gerard, to the
note of the 10th ultimo re the impair
ment OF American interests by the
German submarine war. The imperiaR
government learned with satisfaction
from the note how earnestly the gov
eminent of the United States is con-
cerned in seeing the principles OF hui
manity realized In the present war
Also this appeal finds ready echo in
Germany, and the imperial govern
ment Is quite willing to permit its
statements and decision In the pres
ent case to be governed by the prin-
ciples of humanity just as 1t has done
always.
Recalls Past Agreements.
The imperial government welcomed
with gratitude when the American
government In the note OF May is IT.
self recalled that Germany had al
ways permitted itself to be governed
by the principles OF progress and hui
manity in dealing with the law of
maritime war. Since the time when
Frederick the Great negotiated with
John Adams, BENJAMIN Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friend
ship and commerce Of September 8,
17S5, between Prussia and the repub-
lie OF the west, German and Amer
lean statesmen have, In fact. always
stood together in the struggle for the
freedom OF the seas and for the pro
lection of peaceable trade. In the
international proceedings which since
have been conducted FOR the regula-
ton OF the laws of maritime war, Ger
many and America have jointly adyo-
Gated progressive principles, especial.
ly the adjustment of the right of
capture at sea and the protection of
the interests OF neutrals.
Mindful Of Neutral interests.
Even at the beginning OF the pres
ent war the German government i'm
mediately declared It's willingness to
ratify the declaration OF London and
thereby subject itself in the use of its
naval forces to all the restrictions
provided therein In favor Of neutrals
Germany likewise has been always te
nacious Of the principle that wal
should be conducted against the
armed and organized forces OF an en-
envy country, but that the enemy ci
william population must be spared as
far as possible from the measures OF
war. The imperial government cher
ishes the definite hope that some way
will be found when peace is conclud
ed, or perhaps earlier, to regulate the
law OF maritime war In manner
guaranteeing the freedom of the seas
and will welcome 1t with gratitude
and satisfaction IL It can work hand
In hand with the American govern
ment on that occasion.
ParaIyzc German Traffic.
III In the present war the principles
which should be the ideal of the fu
ture have been traversed more and
more, the longer It's duration, the Ger
man government has no guilt therein
Ii is known to the American govern
ment how Germany's adversaries, bs
completely paralyzing peaceful traffic
between Germany and neutral coun
tries, have aimed from the very be
ginning and with increasing lack oil
consideration, at the destruction, not
so much of the armed forces, as the
life OF the German nation, repudiat
ing in doing SO all the rules OF inter
national law and disregarding all the
rights OF neutrals.
"On November 8, 1914, England de
clared the North sea war area and
by planting poorly anchored mines
and by the stoppage and capture OF
vessels made passage extremely dan
gerous and difficult for neutral ship
ing, so (by) that actually blockadinr
neutral coasts and ports contrary to
all international law Long before the
beginning OF submarine warfare Eng
land practically completely intercept
ed legitimate neutral navigation ia
Germany also. Thus Germany was
driven to a submarine war on trade
Submarine War Forced.
ION November IA. 1914. the English
premier declared in the house of com
mons that it was one of EngIands
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports Since March
] England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formality
all merchandise proceeding to Ger
many, as we'll as all merchandise com
ing from Germany, even when neutral
property. Just as it was also with
the Beers, the German people is now
to be given the choice of perishina
from starvation with its women and
children or OF relinquishing its indie
pendence.
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction. we were