The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-06-11
GERMANY MAKES
FURTHER INQUIRY;
REPLY IS EVASIVE
Answer to President Wilson's
Message Received in Wash
ington From Gerard.
new ISSUE IS OPENED
Berlin Government Regrets Attacks on
Neutral VesseIs-Holds Liner
LusItanla Was crulser-Asks
U. S. to investigate.

Washington, May 31.-The German
reply to the American note sent after
the sinking OF the Lusitania was re-
ceived in Washington last night from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin ana
made public here:
The following is the text of the
German note:
1.-THE undersigned has the honor TO
submit to Ambassador Gerard the FOL
lowing answer to the communication
of May 49, regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
THE imperial government has sub
1ected the communication Of the Amer
lean government to a thorough inves-
tigation. 1t entertains also a keen
wish to cooperate in a frank and
friendly way in clearing up 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 Cushing and
Gulfight The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has no intention OF
submitting neutral ships In the war
zone, which are guilty Of no hostile
acts, to attacks by submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary, the German forces have repeat
edly been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse Of Flags.
1T 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
governments abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior Of the masters Of the ships.
THE German government, in all
cases in which II has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and II justi-
fed by conditions, has offered In
Identification.
"The cases Of the Cushing and the
Gulflight will be treated on the same
principles. An Investigation OF both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicated
to the embassy. The investigation
can II necessary be supplemented by
an international call on the interna-
tional commission of inquiry, as pro
vided by article III OF The Hague
agreement of October IS, 1907.
Justlfies Sinking Of Falaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander Of the Ger
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fled and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphone to leave the ship within
ten minutes He actually allowed
them % minutes time and fred the
torpedo only when suspicious craft
were fastening to the assistance OF
the Falaba.
Regarding the loss Of life by the
sinking of the British passenger steam
er Lusitania the German government
has already expressed to neutral gov
ernments concerned, its keen regret
that citizens Of their state lost their
lives.
ION this occasion the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have es-
capped the attention of the American
government.
"In the interest Of clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments the imperial
government considers 1t first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both governments
about the facts of the case is COM
plete and in accord.
Calls LusltanIa a Cruiser.
THE government Of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The imperial government allows
itself in this connection to point out
that the Lusitania was one OF the
largest and fastest British merchant
ships, built with government funds as
an auxiliary cruiser and carried ex-
pressly as such in the navy list is
sued by the British admiralty
1T is further known to the imperial
government from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passengers
that for a considerable time practically
all the more valuable British mer.
chantmen have been equipped with