The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-07-10
Refuses To Admit the
Right of Americans
to Travel Freely
ENUNCIATES
NEW DOCTRINE
Boldly Justifies Ger
many In Overriding
International Law

BY JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.


(SfdH Correspondent United Press. }
WASHINGTON. July 10.-Ger.
many has enunciated new doc
trine OF international law.
This was the Interpretation placed
BY oficials today on the unoficial
text OF the German reply. cabled
from Berlin. In the absence of the
oficial text, and Of President vii.
son from the capital. administration
oficials declined to comment for
puhlicetion. but prtxstsly they En-
nsv91e1 oroAt oaOpo1nt1nent ~ The
'sfrlaos~ atR64hS1 ~ oSs1sany 70
ne c0ucessions TO the United
states.
The justification OF the sinking
OF the Lusitania was keenly felt. In
asnuch as President Wilson made
the tate of the Americans on that
particular vessel the chief feature
OF his last two communications.
Throughout the entire note. critics
said. Germany returns to frst prin-
ciples Of warfare.
Afirming an original desire to
fight according to the accepted
rules. Germany insists her rivals
have forced her into a tight for very
existence and calmly states, II was
pointed out. that she is meeting that
tight with every weapon at her CON-
mand. and her submarines being ef-
fective. she has no intention OF cur
failing their use although she Ia will.
Ing to do everything possible to
avoid jeopardizing Americans lives.
Attention was called also to the
fact that while American shipping
IN declared immune from molesta-
tion in this connection Germany
cnunciates q new principle which 10
entirely hostile to the American po-
sition. taken by President Wilson,
that American citizens can go
where they please on the high seas.
I'm particular. the imperial Ger
man government 10 unable to admit
that American citizens can protect
an enemy's ship through the mere
fact of their presence on board"
says Germany.
This was declared to be q direct
denial Of the presidents claims.
Next came the German promise to
allow American ships unmolested
passage through the submarine
zone Similar privileges, said the
note. will be extended to neutral
ships. and II these are not enough.
Germany offers to permit certain
enemy ships nyins the American
flag to operate unmolested. In re-
turn Germany states that she enter.
talns the confident hope that the
American government will see that
these ships do not carry contraband:
such ships to be provided with dis
tinguishing marks and their arrival
announced q reasonable time In ad-
vance"
This suggestion, ofiicisls declared.
carries With II q surrender of neu-
trail rights that the United States
cannot consent to. II was pointed
ont that should this government at
tempt to guarantee that cargocs
were non-contraband. It would be
entering the war ~ Germany's ally.
Inssmuch % Il would be serving no
tice that all Atlantic liners not
protected by the American hag. or
designated neutral nags, were fair
prey for German submarines.
Germany declares that England's
closing Of the North sea; her proc
lamation Of q starvation blockade
and be general disregard OF the
rules Of international farfare are
alone responsible for the submarine
warfare. The notA recognises that
Sosntapoeu - PsGs Tws.)