The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-07-15
rs DAKOTA, IHURsDAH.NHY


nv III uIIIIIuhl
of the Lusitania and submarine war
fare, and which has been submitted to
American Ambassador Gerard for
transmission to the Washington gov
ernment as follows:
Berlin, July 8. The undersigned
has the honor to make the following
reply to his excellency, Ambassador
Gerard, to the note Of the 10th utlimo
regarding the impairment Of Americ-
an interests by the German submar-
inc war. The Imperial German gov
ernmenthas learned with satisfaction
from the note how earnestly the gov
enment of the United States is con-
cerned in seeing the principles of hui
manity realized in the present war.
Also, this appeal finds ready echo
in Germany and the Imperial govern
ment is quite willing to permit it's
statements and decisions on the pres
ent case to be governed by the princi-
pies Of humanity just as it has done
always.
"The Imperial government welcom-
ed with gratitude when the American
government, in the note Of May Is,
itself recalled that Germany had al
ways permitted itself to be governed
by the principles Of progress and
humanity in dealing with the law Of
maritime war. Since the time when
Frederick The Great negotiated with
John Adams, Benjiman Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson, the treaty and
friendship and commerce of Septem-
Der 9, 1875, between Prussia and the
republic Of the west, German and
American statesmen have in fact, al
ways stood together in the struggle
for the freedom Of the seas and fol
the protection Of peaceable trade. In
the international proceedings which
since have been conducted for the
regulation of maratime war, Ger
any and America have jointly advo-
Gated progressive principles, espec.
tally the abolishment Of the right tc
capture at sea and the protection o1
the interests sf neutrals.
"Even at the beginning Of. the pres
ent war the German government i'm.
mediately declared its willingness, ir
response to proposals of the Ameri.
can government, to ratify the declar.
alton of London, and thereby subject
itself in the use of it's naval forces tc
all the restrictions provided therein
in favor Of neutrals. Germany like.
wise has always been tenacious of the
principle that war should be conduct.
ed against the armed and organized
forces of an enemy country but that
the enemy civilian population must be
spared as far as possible from the
measures of war. The Imperial gov.
ernment cherishes the definite hope
that some way will be found, wher
peace is concluded, or perhaps earlier
to regulate the law of maritime wal
in manner guaranteeing the freedom
of the sea, and will welcome it with
gratitude and satisfaction if it car
work hand in hand with the American
government on that occasion.
eff in the present war the principles
which should be the ideal of the fu
ture, have been traversed more ant
more, the longer it's duration, the Ger
man government has no guilt therein
It is known to the American govern
ment how Germany's adversaries, b!
completely paralyzing %peaceable ira
fic between Germany and neutra
countries, have aimed from the yer!
beginning and with the increasing
lack of consideration at it's destruc
ton, but So much of the armed force
as the life of the German nation, re
pudiating in doing So all the rules o
international law and disregardin,
all the rights of neutrals.
"On Nov. 8, 1914, England declare
the North Sea a war area and b
planting poorly anchored mines an
by the stoppage and capture of vessel
made passage extremely dangerou
and difficult for neutral shipping, 8
i (by?) that action blockading neutrs
coasts and ports contrary to all in
ternational law. Long before the be
ginning of submarine war, Englan
practically intercepted legitimate net
. tral navigation to Germany als'
Thus, Germany was driven to SUI