The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-14
AMERICANS WILL BE SAFE ON
NEUTRAL SHIPS .
GRAVE issue IS CREATED
German Reply Proposes Restricted
Modus ViveEdi and Offers Guaran-
tees With observation-disclosures
Reference to Reparation for Loss
of Life on LuSitania.
Berlin, July

Bernn, July ..
sThe undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to his e.
celIency. Ambassador Gerard, to the
note of the 10th ultimo re the INT
pairment of American interests oy
the German submarine war.
s'The imperial government learned
with satisfaction from the note no"
earnestly the government OF the Unit
ed States is concerned in seeing the
nrinciples of humanity realized in the
present war. Also this appeal finds
ready echo in Germany and the I'M
nerial government is quite willing TO
hermit its statements and decisions
in the present case to be governed oy
the principles Of humanity just as II
has done always.
.sThe imperial government wei
coined with gratitude when tne
American government IN the note OF
MAY Is itself recalled that Germany
always had permitted itself to be
governed by the principles OF pro
yress and humanity in dealing Win
the law of maritime war. Since the
time when Frederick the Great nego-
tiated with John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson the
treaty Of friendship and commerce o.
Sentember s, 1855, between Prussia
and the Republic of the West' Ger
man and American statesmen nave
in fact, always stood together in the
struggle for the freedom OF peace
able trade. In the International pro-
ceedinss which since have been con-
Quoted for the regulation OF the laws
NJ maritime war Germany and Amerl-
ca have Jointly advocated progressive
principles, especially the abolition OF
the right of capture at sea ana the
nrotection of the interests OF neu-
trails.
ssEyen at the beginning Of the pres
emit war the German government I'M
neaiately declared its willingness, IN
response to proposals Of the Amera-
can government, to ratify the decia-
ration of London and thereby SUBJECT
itself in the use of its, naval forces TO
all the restrictions provided therein
In favor of neutraIS. Germany IKE
wise has been always tenacious OF tne
nrincipie that war should be conduct
ed against the armed and organized
forces of an enemy country ou1 ina.
the enemy civilian populatlon must
he shared as far as possible from the
measures Of war. The imperial gov
ernment cherishes the definite hope
that some way will be found, when
peace is concluded, or perhaps ear
Iier. to regulate the law of maritime
war in a manner guaranteelug the
freedom Of the seas, and Will WEI
come it with gratitude and satls1ac-
tion if it can work hand in hand Wltr
the American government on that oc-
casion.
"If in the present war the prlncl-
ples which should be the ideal OF the
future have been trayersed more and
more. the longer its duration, the
German government has no guli1
therein It is known to the Amerl-
can government how Germany's ad-
yersaries, by completely paralyzlng
peaceable traffic between Germany
and neutral countries, have almeo
from the very beginning and with IN
creasing lack of consideration at the
destruction not so much OF the armed
forces as the life Of the German ma
ton, repudiating in doing so al the !
rules of international law and dlsre-
garding all rights of neutrals. /
ION November 5, 1914, England
declared the North sea war area
and by planting poorly anchored
mines and by the stoppcge and cap
ture Of vessels made passage e1-
tremely dangerous and difficult for
neutral shipping, so toy) tnat &C,
tually blockading neutral coasts and
ports contrary to ell international
law. Long before the beginning OF
submarine war England practlcaliy
intercepted legitimate neutral naVl-
cation to Germany also. Thus Ge--
many was driven to submarine war
on trade. On November IA, 1914,
the English premier declared in the
House of Commons that it was one
of England's principle tasks to pre-
vent food for the German population
from reaching Germany via neutral
ports. Since March / England has
been taking from neutral ships with
out further formality all merchandise
proceeding to Germany, as well as
all merchandise coming from Ger
many, even when neutral property
lust as it was also with the Beers.
the German people is now to be given
the choice of perishing fran starva-
ton with it's women and children CT
Of relinquishing its independence.
while our enemies thus loudly
Continued Oh last page.)