The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-16


| have been obliged to adopt subma-
| rine warfare to meet the declared in
| tentions of our enemies and the meth
cd of warfare adopted by them In
contravention of international law.
Fighting for Existence.
with all It's efforts in principle to
, protect neutral life and property
from damage as much as possible, the
German government recognized unre-
servedIy In It's memorandum OF Feb
ruary that the interests of neutrals
might suffer from the submarine war
fare. However, the American govern
ment will also understand and appre-
clate that In the fight for existence
which has been forced upon Germany
by It's adversaries and announced by
them, 1t is the sacred duty or the Inn
perial government to do all within It's
power to protect and save the lives of
German subjects. IL the imperial
government were derelict In these, It's
duties, 1t would be guilty before God
and history of the violation of those
principles of highest humanity which
are the foundation Of every national
existence.
Case OF Lusitania.
"The case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what jeop-
ardizing OF human lives the manner OF
conducting war employed by our adj
yersaries leads. In the most direct
contradiction OF international law, all
distinction between merchantmen and
war vessels have been obliterated by
the order to British merchantmen to
a rr,a ~ raf, us,f.r
rines, and the promise of rewards
| therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen as travellers thereby have
TO all the dangers of war.
III the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
| gers TO take to the boats before FIR
Ing torpedo this would have meant
| the sure destruction OF his own YES
sci. After the experiences in sinking
much smaller and less seaworthy yes.
| sells. 1t was to be expected that q
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough even
after the torpedoing to permit passen-
gers to enter the ships boats. Cir.
cumstances OF q very peculiar kind,
especially the presence on board of
large quantities of highly explosive
materials, defeated this expectation.
In addition 1t may be pointed out that
II the Lusitania had been spared
thousands of cases of munitions would
have been sent to Germany's enemies
and thereby thousands of German
mothers and children robbed OF bread
| winners
/ VIII Not Hinder American Ships.
In the spirit of friendship where
/ with the German nation has been Inn
bued towards the Union and its in
habitants since the earliest days of its
existence, the imperial government
will always be ready to do all 1t can
| during the present war also to prevent
the jeopardizing of lives of American
citizens. The imperial government,
therefore, repeats the assurances that
American ships will not be hindered
In the prosecution of legitimate ship.
ping and the lives of American citi-
zens in neutral vessels shall not pc
placed in jeopardy.
In order to exclude any unfore-
seen dangers to American passenger
steamers, made possible in view of the
conduct of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
SAFE passage of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by spe-
cial markings and notified reason
able time in advance. The imperial
government, however, confidently
hopes that the American government
will assume to guarantee that these
| UaGGala haun mr. pf..oh os nd nm, n,.l
details of arrangement for the unhan,.
\ pered passage of these vessels to be
agreed upon by the naval authorities
of both sides.
Can Increase Number Of Ships.
i I'm order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens. the German gov.
eminent submits for consideration a
proposal to increase the number OF
i available steamers by installing In
passenger service a reasonable mum,
Der of neutral steamers under the
American flag, the exact number to be
agreed upon under the same condition
as the above mentioned American
i steamers.
THE imperial government believes
1t can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across
the Atlantic ocean can be afforded
American citizens. There would,
therefore. appear to be no compelling
necessity for American citizens to
travel to Europe in time of war on
ships carrying an enemy flag. In par
ticular the imperial government is I'M
able to admit that American citizens
can protect an enemy ship through
the mere fact of their presence on
board
Would Allow Four Enemy Ships.
Germany merely followed Eng.
lands example when she declared
part of the high sea an area of war
Consequently, accidents suffered by
neutrals on enemy ships in an area
of war cannot Wet be judged differ,
emily from accidents to which neu.
trails are all times exposed at the seat
Of war on land when they betake
themselves into dangerous localities
in spite of previous warnings. IT,
however, 1t should not be possible
for the American government to re