The Lovington leader., 1915-06-11
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Western Sesspasss rsses NON Service
Berlin. Nay 3o.-Ths unAersigned
has the honor to submit 70 Amhas-
sado' Gerard the following answer to
the communicstion OF Nay Is. regard.
Ing the injury to Americas Interests
through German submarine warfare:
The imperial government has sub
jected the comnunication Of the
American sovesnment TO Q thorough
tnvestiGattoo. Il eutertains q keen
wish 10 cooperate In Q frank and
friendly way IN clearing up Q possible
Misunderstanding which may have
arisen In the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned BY the American govern.
ment.
Regarding. firstly. the cases Of the
American steamers Gushing and Gu'..
light The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger.
man government has no intention Of
submitting neutral ships In the war
sone which are guilty OF no hostile 2
acts. to attacks by q submarine or sub
marines. or aviators. On the contrary,
the German forces have repeatedly
been instructed most specifically TO
avoid attacks on such ships.
II neutral ships In recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare. owing to mistakes
In Identification. II is a question only
OF quite isolated and exceptional
cases. which can be attributed to the
British governments abuse OF flags,
together with the suspicious or culpa.
Die behavior Of the masters OF the
ships.
The German government. In all
cases In which II has been shown by
investigations that a neutral ship, not
itself at fault, was damaged by Ger
man submarines or aviators, has ex.
pressed regret over the unfortunate
accident. and. II justified by condi.
tions. has Offered naturalization.
The cases OF the Cushing and Gulf.
hght Will be treated on the same prin.
ciples. An Investigation OF both cases
Is In progress. the result of which will
presently be communicated to the EN-.
can be supplemented by an inter.
national call on the international
commission OF inquiry. as provided by
Article Ill Of The Hague agreemen,
OF October Is, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the German
submarine had the intention OF allow.
ing the passengers and crew a full
opportunity for safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the
"rder 10 heave to, but fled and sum.
'noned help by rocket signals, did the
ierman commander order the crew
md passengers by signals and mega.
phones to leave the ship within ten
minutes, He actually allowed them
wenty'three minutes time. and fired
he torpedo only when suspicious craft
we're Fastening to the assistance oi
he Falaba.
Regarding the loss OF life bv the
sinking OF the British passenger
steamer Lusitania. the German gov.
ernment has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned Il,
keen regrets that citizens of their
states lost their lives.
On this occasion, the imperial poy.
eminent, however, cannot escape tho
Impression that certain important
tacts having a direct bearing on the
sinking OF the I.usitania NAV have es.
caped the attention of the America,
government.
In the interest of a clear and com.
plete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments, the imperial
government considers it first neces
sary to convince itself that the infor,
nation accessible to both governments
about the facts of the case is connie,
and in accord
| Inc government OF the Tnito
states proceeds on tho assump,ion
'hat the Lusi,ania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchantman