The Penn's Grove record., 1915-06-04
Full Text of Cermany's
Reply to the United States

The undersigned has the honor to sub
NIT to Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the communication
of May 10 regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare:
The Imperial Government has SUBJ
iected the communication of the Ameri-
can Government to a thorough investi-
cation. 1t entertains also a keen wish
to cooperate in a frank and friendly
way in clearing up a possible misunder-
standing which may have arisen in the
relations between the two Governments
through the events mentioned by the
American Government.
Regarding, firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Gushing and Gull
flight, the American Embassy has al
ready been informed that the German
Government has no intention of submit
ting neutral ships In the war zone, which
are guilty of no hostile acts, to attacks
by a submarine or submarines or avia-
tors. On the contrary, the German
forces have repeatedly been instructed
most specifically to avoid attacks on such
ships.
If neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes in
Identification, it is a question only OF
quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the British
Government s abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable behavior
of the masters of the ships.
The German Government, in all cases
in which it has been shown by its in
~vestigations that a neutral ship, not it.
self at fault, was damaged by German
submarines or aviators, has expressed re-
gret over the unfortunate accident, and,
if justified by conditions, has offered in
Identification.
The cases of the Gushing and the
Gulfight will be treated on the same
principles.
An investigation of both cases is in
progress, the result of which will pre-
sently be communicated to the Embassy.
The investigation can, if necessary, be
supplemented by an international call on
the International Commission of Inquiry,
as provided by Article III. of The Hague
agreement of Oct. 10, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer Fa-
laba, the commander of the German sub
marine had the intention of allowing the
passengers and crew a full opportunity
for a safe escape. Only when the master
did not obey the order to heave to, but
fed and summoned help by rocket sig
nails, did the German commander order
the crew and passengers by signals and
%megaphone to leave the ship within ten
minutes. He actually allowed them
twenty-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 sink
ing of the British passenger steamer Luz
~sitania, the German Government has al
ready expressed to the neutral Govern
ments concerned it's keen regret that
citizens of their States lost their lives.
On this occasion the Imperial Govern
ment, however, cannot escape the I'M
preston that certain important facts
having a direct bearing on the sinking
of the Lusitania may have escaped the
attention of the American Government.
In the interest of a clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim of
both Governments, the Imperial Govern
nent considers it first necessary to
convince itself that the information
accessible to both Governments about the
facts OF the case is complete and in ac-
cord.
The Government of the United States
proceeds on the assumption that the
Lusltania could be regarded as an ordi-
nary unarmed merchantmen. The I'm
perlal Government allows itself in this
connection to point out that the Lusi-
tanla was one of the largest and fastest