Evening journal., 1915-07-10
Germany PLEDGES
PRORECTIONIF ships Do
NOT Carry CONTRABAND
Continued From First Pare.

continued fIOm flTSl rage.
TO protect and save the lives Of Ger
man subjects. If the imperial gov
ernment we're derelict in these its
duties. il would be guilty before God
and history of the violation of those
principles Of highest humanity which
are the foundation of every national
existence.
"The case Of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what
ieopardizing Of human lives the man
ner of conducting war employed by
our adversarics leads. In the most
direct contradiction OF. international
law, all distinctions between mer-
chantmen and war vessels have been
cbliterated by the order to British
merchantmen to arm themselves and
ram submarines and the promise of
rewards therefor, and neutrals who
use merchantmen as travellers there
/ by have been exposed in an increas-
/ ing degree to all the dangers of war.
IF the commander of the German
submarine wbicL destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to lake 10 the boats before
firing a torpedo this would have
meant the sure destruction Of his
own vessel. After the experiences
in sinking much smaller and less sea-
worthy vessels, II was to be expected
that mighty ship like the Lusitania
would remain above water long
enough even after the torpedoing to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. Circumstances OF very
peculiar kind especially the presence
on board Of large quantities of highly
explosive materials (word omitted,
possibly 'dissipatedD this expeota-
ton. In addition II may be pointed
out that If the Lusitania had been
/ spared thousands of cases Of am
munitions woulc have been sent to
lCermany's enemies and thereby thou
sands OF German mothers and chill
dren robbed OF hreadwinners.
Safety for Z. s. ships.
"In the spirit of friendship with
which the German nation has been
imbued towards the union and its in
habitants since the earliest days Of
its existence the imperial govern
ment will always be ready to do all il
can during the present war, also to
prevent the 1eopardizing Of lives Of
American citizens. The imperial gov
eminent. therefore, repeats the as
snrance that American ships will not
/ be hindered in the prosecution Of
h gitimate shipping and the lives Of
! American citizens in neutral ships
shall not be placed in Jeopardy. y
I'm order to exclude any anfore-
seen dangers 20 American steamers,
made possible in view of the conduct
CT maritime war by Germany's adj
iVersaries. German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage Of such passenger
steamers WHOM made recognizable by
/ special markings and notified a rea-
sonable time IN advance. The imper-
ial government. however,. confidently
hopes that ihe American government
Will assume to guarantee that these
vessels have nc ccntraband on board,
details Of arrangement for the un-
hampered passage OF these vessels to
he agreed upon by the naval authori-
ties of both sides.
"ln order 10 furnish adequate facil-
tiles for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens. the German gov
ernment submits for consideration
proposal to increase the number of
available steamers by installing in
passenger service a reasonable num-
her OF neutral steamers under the
American flag, The exact number to
A be agreed upon under the same con-
dition as the aforementioned steam
ers.
"The imperial government believes
il can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across
the Atlantic be Afforded American
citizens. There would, therefore. be
no compelling necessity for Ameri-
can citizens 20 travel to Europe in
time of war on ships carrying an
enemy flag. IN particular the imper-
ial government is unable to admit
that American citizens can protect
an enemy ship through the mere fact
Of their presence on board
Germany followed England's example
when she declared part of the high Sc,
an area of war; Consequently, ac,ident'
suffered by neutrals on enemy ships IN
this area of war cannot we'll be iudgct
. differently from accidents TO which neu
trails are at all times exposed at thu
seat of war on land when they hetak'
! themselves into dangerous localities II
spite Of previous warnings. II. however
Il should not be possible for the Ameri
! I can government to require an adequate
J number Of neutral passenger steamers
the imperial government ia prepared {,
interpOsc no objections to the placin,
under the American flag by the Ameri
can government by four enemy passen
ger steamers for passenger traffic be
tween North America and England. A.
surances of free and safe passage fol