The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-11
STILL INSISTING
SHE DID RIGHT
Germany Refuses to Abandon
Submarine Campaign as
Asked by United
States.
REPLY IS FRIENDLY ONE
Declares That Sinking Of LusItania
Was Legitimate Act of War
fare and That England
Set Example. #
REPLY IS FRIENDLY ONE

BERLIN, July 1o--Germany's offer,
embodied in the reply to the United
States note regarding the sinking of
the I.usitania and submarine warfare,
which was delivered to James w.
Gerard, the American ambassador,
last night, is:
First-Reiterated assurance that
American ships engaged in legitimate
trade will not be interfered with. nor
the lives of Americans upon neutral
ships be endangered.
Second-That German submarines
will be instructed to allow American
passenger ships to pass freely and
safely, Germany entertaining in return
the confident hope that the American
government will see that these ships
do not carry contraband; such ships
to be provided with distinguishing
marks and their arrival announced
reasonable time in advance.
The same privilege Is extended to
a reasonable number Of neutral pas
senger ships under the merfcan flag,
and should the number of ships thus
available for passenger service prove
Germany is willing to per-
nit America to place four hostile pas
senger steamers under the Aferican
flag to ply between North America
and Europe under the same condi-
tions.
"The undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to His Ex-
cellency Gerard to the note of the
10th ultimo, regarding the impair
ment OF American interests by the
German submarine war. The imper-
ial government learned with salts
faction from the note how earnestly
the United States is concerned in
seeking the principles Of humanity
realized in the present war Also
this appeal finds ready echo in Ger
many and the imperial government !
IS quite willing to permit it's state
nents and decisions in the present
case to be governed by the principles |
If humanity just as it has done al |
ways.
"The imperial government vel. !
,omed with gratitude when the |
American government in the note of !
Nay IS, itself recalled that Germany |
had always permitted itself to be |
governed by the principles of prog
'ess and humanity in dealing with |
he law. of maritime war Since the |
ime when Frederick the Great ne
rotated with John Adams, BENJAMIN |
franklin and Thomas jefferson, the |
reaty of friendship and commerce |
Il September 8. 1885. between Pr,ls-
ia and the republic of the west,
rerman and American statesmen
aV, in fact, always stood together
n the struggle for the freedom of
he seas and for the protection of
eaceful trade. In the regulation of
he laws of maritime war, GERMANY
nd America have Jointly advocated
progressive principles, especially the
bolishment of the right to capture
t sea and the protection of the in
erests Of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
mt war, the German government i'm
lediately declared it's willingness in
esponse to proposals Of the Ameri-
an government to ratify the declara-
lon of London and thereby subject
self in the use of its naval forces to
II the restrictions provided therein
I favor of neutrals. Germany like,
,ise has been always tenacious of
ne principle that war should be con-
ucted against the armed and or
anized forces of the enemy country.
ut that the enemy civilian pepula
on must be spared as far as possible
rom the measure of war. The i'm
erial government cherishes the def
ite hope that some way will be
ound when peace is concluded, or
erhaps earlier, to regulate the law
maritime war in manner g1ar-
nteeing the freedom of the seas.
nd will welcome it with gratitude
nd satisfaction if it can work hand /,
l hand with the American govern
lent on that occasion.
II in the present war the princi-
les which should be the ideal of tie
ItuFe have been traversed more and
lore, the longer its duration: the