The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-07-15
Assumption of Liability in Lusitania
Case, is Ignored by Berlin
Guaranty is Offered
AMERICAN DEMANDS EVADED
No Offer Made That Imperial Government
Will Comply With Recognized Prin-
ciples of International Law

The text Of the German note fol-
lows:
THE undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to His Ex-
cellency, Ambassador Gerard, to the
note of the 10th ultimo re the i'm
pairment of American interests by the
German submarine war: The Imperial
Government learned with satisfaction
from the note how earnestly the Gov
ernment of the United States is con-
cerned in seeing the principles of hu-
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 in the pres
ent case to be governed by the princi-
pies of humanity, just as it has done
always.
"The Imperial Government well
coined with gratitude when the Amer
ican Government, in the note of May
Is, itself recalled that Germany had
always permitted itself to be governed
by the principles of progress and hui
manity in dealing with the law of
maritime war. Since the time when
Frederick the Great negotiated with
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friend
ship and commerce of September 8,
1885, between Prussia and the Repub-
lie of the West, German and Ameri-
can statesmen have, in fact, always
stood together in the struggle for the
freedom of the seas and for the pro-
lection of peaceable trade. In the
International proceedings which since
have been conducted for the regula-
tion of the laws of maritime war Ger
many and America have jointly advo-
Gated progressive principles, especial
ly the abolishment of the right of cap
ture at sea and the protection of the
interests of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German Government i'm,
mediately declared it's willingness, in
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
to all the restrictions provided therein
in favor of neutrals. Germany like.
wise has been always tenacious of
the principle that war should be con.
Quoted against the armed and organ.
lied forces of an enemy country, but
that the enemy civilian population
must be spared as far as possible for
the measures of war. The Imperial
Government cherished the definite
hope that some way will be found
when peace is concluded, or perhaps
earlier, to regulate the law of mari.
time war in a manner guaranteeing
the freedom of the seas, and will well
come it with gratitude and satisfac.
tion if it can work hand in hand with
the American Government on that oc-
casion. a
If in the present war the princi.
pies which should be the ideal of the
future have been traversed more and
more, the longer it's duration the Ger
man Government has no guilt there,
in. 1t is known to the American Gov.
ernment how Germany's adversaries
by completely paralyzing peaceable
traffic between Germany and neutral
countries, have aimed from the very
beginning, and with increasing lack
of consideration, at the destruction
not so much of the armed forces as
the life of the German nation, repu
dating in doing SO all the rules Of
International law and disregarding all
rights of neutrals.
"On November 8, 1914, England de
clared the North Sea war area, and
by planting poorly anchored mines
and by the stoppage and capture ol
vessels made passage extremely dan
gerous and difficult for neutral ship
ping, SO by actual blocking neutral
coasts and ports, contrary to all inter
national law, long before the begin
ming of the submarine war, England
practically completely intercepted le
gitimate neutral navigation to Ger
many also. Thus Germany was driver
to a submarine war on trade.
"On November IA, 1914, the English
Premier declared in the House of Com
mons that it was one of England'E
principal tasks to prevent food for the