The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-14

""s suiy ~ IVA London, July
io).--uermany's Offer. embodied IN
the rtpS 10 the American note re-
sardips the sinking of the Lusitania
and Submarine warfare. which was
deliveced TO American Ambassad Tor
Gerard hast night. ts.
rrst. reiterated assurance that
American ships engaged In Legitimate
trade win nvt be interfered with nor
viii the Rves OF Americans on neutral
ships. be endangered.
second. that German submarines
viii be instusstsd to allow American
passerger ships to pass freely and
safelyi Germany entertaining In re-
turn uhe confident hope that the
American government will see that
these ships do not carry contraband.
such thips TO be provided with dis
unguishfss marks and their arrival
snnoupced reasonable time I'm ad-
vancel The same privilege is ex-
tende9 to n reasonable. number OF
neutrdl- passenger ships under the
Amerfean dag and should the num-
Der OF ships thus available for SER
vice prove~ inadequate. Germany Is
willing To permit America to place
four nostile passenger steamers un-
der tfpe American flag to ply between
North, America and Europe under
the ssme conditions.
Theatext OF the note follows:
Berlin. July 3.
'ThA undersigned has the honor
TO mske the following reply to his
sxceilsncy. ambassador Gerard, TO
the, note ofstkeaisth 'ultimo re the i'm
pairmSnt oteAmerican interests by the
esrmtn marssrine. war.
Tho impefiat government learned
with eetisfaction from the note how
sarneTly the government of the
United States Is concerned I'm seeing
the rriuciptes of humanity realized
I'm the present war. Also this appeal
nndr ready echo IN Germany and the
inprrtnl government Is quite willing
90 pefnit It's statements and decisions
IN che present cast To be governed
BY ths principles OF humanity Just as
Il hat done always.
"Tfte imperial government welcom-
Cd wfh gratitude when the American n
soverpment I'm the note OF May 15
itself recalied that Germany always
had PERMITTED itself to be governed
BY tks principles OF progress and
humshity In dealing with the law OF
maritime war since the time when
Fred$ick the Great negotiated with
John Adams. BENJAMIN Franklin and
Thongs Jefferson the treaty Of friend
ship md commerce OF September 8.
i7sb. between Prussia and the Re-
public of the West. German and
American Statesmen have. In fact. al
ways stood together In the struggle
for tie freedom OF the seas and for
the pfotection OF peaceable trade. In
the International proceedings which
since have been conducted for the
regalhtion< OF the laws OF maritime
war Gegmany and America have joint
~ advocated progressive principles.
especially the abolition OF the right
Of capture at sea and the protection
of tE interests Of neutrals.
"Efen at the beginning of the
presdht war the German government
immsditsy ydselsred It's Willingness.
In reSporss TO proposals OF the Amer
lean government. to ratify the decla-
ratio OF London and thereby subject
itselt In the use OF It's naval forces
60 nj the restrictions provided there
In n favor OF neutrals. Germany
nkeVise has been always tenacious of
thu Principle that war should be con-
ductsd against the armed and organ
lied forces OF an enemy country but
that the, enemy civilian population
mus be spared IA far as possible
froH the measures OF war. The i'm
perisl government cherishes the def
mite }hope that some way will be found.
whsh peace Is concluded, or perhaps
sarltvr.to regulate the law OF mari
time war In a manner guaranteeing
the freedom OF the seas. and will well
couies,It with gratitude and satisfac-
tiorS II II can work hand In hand
WITH the American government on
thai occasion.
20 In the present war the princl.
ples which should be the ideal OF
theffuture have been traversed more
and more. phe longer It's duration
thu ,aerhaA government has no guilt
thdsein. II Is known to the Ameri
csg government how aermany's ad
vesaries. by completely paralyzinl
peaeeable traffic between German,