Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-30
LAST FRYE NOTE
FROM GERMANY
VERY FRIENDLY
American Merchantmen Carry.
ing Conditional Contraband
Not to Be Destroyed.

Washington. d. c.. Sept. cs-Orders
have been issued to the German naval
forces mot to destroy American mer-
chantmen which have loaded conditional
contraband even when the conditions Of
international law IRE violated, but to
permit them to continue their voyage
unhlndered II 1t Is not possible to take
them to port" This is the substance
of the latest German note to the Uni
ted States on the subject Of the sinking
OF the william p. Frye by the Prince
Eitel, the note having been made public
to-day. 1t is also stated:
I'm order to furnish to the American
government evidence Of its concilitory
attitude, while the question OF inter-
preting the treaty Of 1923 Is submitted
to arbitration. the American suggestion
for the naming OF experts for fixing the
indemnity for sinking the Frye is ac-
cepted."
AS for absolute contrabsnd, such as
arms and ammunition, Germany states
in its note that: ut must reserve to
itself the right to destroy vessels carry
ing absolute contraband wherever that
destruction is permissible according to
the provisions Of the declaration Of Eng
land"
The German note is regarded as evil
dencing more friendly spirit on the
part Of the German foreign officr. Fol
lowing the strained relations between
the two governments 1t was received as
a favorable development.
1t assures American vessels against at
tack without warning. even In event that
they are carrying absolute contrahand
Passengers and crew are bound, according
to the declaration Of London. to be moved
before there Is any destruction. which also
and only occurs in event OF extreme neces-
sity.
with regard first to the entertainment
of the damage by experts the German
government believes 1t should dispense
with the nomination Of an umpire. Will
the settlement arranged between the Ger
man government and neutral governments
the experts named by the two parties
have always reached an agreement rs Il
the amount Of damage without difficulty
Should II not be possible. 1t could proln
bly, be settled by diplomatic negotiations
Assuming that the American government
1 SIccS W ~, thC NIViiiihh 6C'S'''''N'
names as It's expert. Dr. Kepy, director
of the North German Lloyd company. II
awaits the designation Of the American
expert.
The German government agrees to the
proposal of the American government &c
separate the question of indemnity from
the question Of Interpretation Of the Prus
sian American treaties OF 17s5, 1899 AM
1928
IT states that in making payment it does
not acknowledge violation Of the treaty a.
contemplated by the American side, bu
1t will admit that the settlement of the
question of indemnity does not prelude.
the difference Of opinion concerning Tho
Interpretation Of treaty rights. and thi:
dispute is left to The Hague tribunal fo'
arbitration.
The negotiations for n compromise pro
vidcd by article 60 OF The Hague arbitra
tion convention would best be conducted
between the foreign office and the Amer
lean embassy at Berlin in view Of thu
difficulties In instructing the imperial am
bassador at Washington. In case the
American government agrees the foreign
office 10 willing to submit draft Of suct
q compromise.