Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-05-18
GERMANY MODIfIES THREAT
Revolving Disclaimer OF Responsibility
For Injury To Vessels Entering
Naval War Zone, Berlin Offers
To Pay For Damage Done.

Washington. - Germany, through
Ambassador Gerard, notified the
United States that submarine COM
manders had been specifically in
structed not to harm neutral vessels
not engaged in hostile acts, and that
Germany would pay for damages to
such ships in the war zone.
Neutral ships carrying contraband
will be dealt with, the announcement
says, according to the rules of naval
warfare. If neutral ships are acci-
dentally damaged in the war zone, Ger
many will express its regret and pay
damage without prize court proceed
ing.
The German Government justifies its
submarine warfare on the grounds that
England threatened TO starve the
civilian population of Germany by pro
hibiting neutral commerce in foodstuffs
and other necessities.
In previous communications Ger
many has disclaimed responsibility for
any harm that might befall neutral
vessels venturing into the war zone.
Hands of Neutrals.
The text of the announcement
cabled by Ambassador Gerard, which
was issued by the Berlin Foreign
Office in the form of circular, fol-
lows:
81. The Imperial German Govern
ment naturally has no intention of
causing to be attacked by submarines
or aircraft such neutral ships of com
merce In the zone of naval warfare,
definitely described in the notice of
the German Admiralty staff of Feb
ruary last, as have been guilty of no
hostile act. On the contrary, the most
definite instructions repeatedly have
been issued to German war vessels to
avoid attacks on such ships under all
circumstances. Even when such ships
have contraband of war on board, they
are dealt with by submarines solely
according to the rule of international
law applying to prize warfare.
"2. Should neutral ship neverthe-
less come to harm through German
submarines or aircraft on account of
an unfortunate (word apparently miss
ing from dispatch) in the above-men-
toned zone of naval warfare, the Ger
man Government will unreservedly
recognize its responsibility therefore.
In such a case it will express its re-
grets and afford damages without first
instituting prize court action.
80. 1t is the custom of the German
Government, as soon as the sinking of
neutral ship in the aforementioned
zone of naval warfare is ascribed to
German war vessels to institute an i'm
mediate investigation into the cause
If grounds appear thereby to be given
for association OF such hypothesis,
the German Navy places itself in COM
munication with the interested neutral
government so that the latter may also
institute an investigation.
Promises Prompt Pay.
eff the German Government is there
by convinced that the ship has been
destroyed by German vessels, it will
not delay in carrying out the pro
visions of paragraph 2 above. In case
the German Government, contrary to
the viewpoint of the neutral govern.
ment, is not convinced by the result of
the investigation, the German Govern
ment has also already on several oc-
casions declared itself ready to allow
the question to be decided by an inter.
national investigation commission, &C.
cording to Chapter 8 of The Hague
Convention of October IS, 1907, for
the peaceful solution OF international
disputes"