Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-10
AMERICANS ASSURED
Of SAFETY BUT WILL
KEEP To PAST POLICY
Germany Reply To American Reioner Friendly In Tone
But Regarded As Unsatis factory In Official Circles
Kaiser Makes No Real Concessions To American De-
mands---Endless Diplomatic Exchanges Probable

between Germany and neutral coun.
tries, have aimed from the beginning
and with increasing lack of considera.
tion at the destruction, not so much of
the armed forces as the life of the
German nation, repudiating in doing
SO all the rules of international law
and diSregarding all the rights of neu-
trails.
con November 3, 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 dangerous and
difficult for neutral shipping, so Cbyl)
that actually blockading neutral coasts
and ports contrary to all international
law Long before rhe beginning of
submarine war England practically
completely intercepted legitimate neu.
tral navigation to Germany also. This
Germany was driven to a submarine
war on trade.
Food Blockade Reviewed.
con November lb, 1914, the English
Premier declared ia the House of
Commons that it was one of England s
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March l England has been taking
from neutral ships without further for.
mality all merchandise proceeding to
Germany, as well as all merchandise
coming 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 perish.
ing from starvation with its women
and children or of relinquishing its
independence.
"While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, we were con.
ducting war in elfdefense for our
natural existence and for the sake of
peace of an assured permanency. We
have been obliged to adopt sub.
marine warfare to meet the declared
intentions Of our enemies and the
method Of warfare adopted by them
in contrayention Of international law
With all its efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger.
man government recognized unreserv.
edly in its memorandum of FEBRUARY
4, that the interests Of neutrals might
suffer from the submarine warfare.
However, the American government
will also understand and appreciate
that in the fight for existence which
has been forced upon Germany by its
adversaries and announced by them, il
is the sacred duty of the imperial gov.
ernment to do all within its power
TO urotcct and save the lives of Ger.
man subjects. If the imperial govern.
ment were derelct in these, its duties.
/ it would be guilty before God and his.
/ tory of the violation Of those prin.
ciples Of highest humanity which are
the foundation of every national ex.
istenee.
Britain Blamed for Ludtania.
"The case Of the lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what leopard.
izing Of human lives the manner Of
conducting war employed by our adver.
sares leads In the most direct CON
tradiction Of international law, all dis.
/ tinction between :ierchantmen and
war vessels have been obligated by
the order to British merchantmen TO
arm themselves and to ram submarines
Nand the promises Of rewards therefore,
and neutrals who use merchantmen as
travellers, thereby, have been exposed
by an increasing degree 20 all the
dangers OF war.
Quick Sinking OF Lusitania Surprises
''If the commander OF the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
taniu had caused the crew and passeu.
gers TO take 10 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 seaworthy vessels, II
was % be expected that q mighty shiI
like the Lusitania would remain above
water long enough even after the tor.
pedoinR 70 permit passengers 90 enter
the ships boats. Circumstances of a
very peculiar kind especially tAe pres.
encp on board oi large quantities. Of
highly explosive materials WORD
omitted possibly iisspatei y this ez.
peetation.
'In addition. 10 may be- pointed ou'
that IL the Lusitania had been spared
thousands Of cases of munitions would
have been sent TO Germany enemies,
and thereby thousands of German
mothers and children robbed Of bread
winners.
"Ia the spirit Of Friendship where.
with the German nation has been im
bued toward the Union and its inhab-
itants since the earliest days 0f it. e1.
isteuce. che imperial government viii
Always be ready 20 90 all 30 can 1irine
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