Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
GERMANY's SECOND LUsITANIA REPLY

Berlin, via Loudon), July 10, 2:37
4 m.-The text OF the second German
reply on the Lusitauia case follows:
The undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to His Ex-
eeuency, Ambassador Gerard. to the
note Of the 10th, ultimo. re the i'm
pa.rmeBt OF American interests by
the German submarine war. The
imperial government learned with
satisfaction from the note how earn
estly the government Of the United
States is concerned in seeing the prin-
e5pIes Of humanity realized in the
present war Also this appeal finds
ready ecao In Germany and the i'm
periaI government is quite willing to
permit It's statements and decisions in
The present case to be governed by
the principles Of humanity Just as it
has done always.
THE imperial government well
coined with gratitude when the Ameri-
can government in the note of May
Is itself recalled that Germany had
always permitted itself to be governed
By the principles Of progress and hu-
manity in dealing with the law Of mar
itime war. Since the time when Fred
erick the Great negotiated with John
adams, Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas jefferson the treaty of
friendship and commerce Of Septem-
Der g. 1855. between Prussia and the
republic OF the west, German and
American statesmen have, in fact, al
ways stood together in the struggle
for the freedom of the seas and for
the protection of peaceable trade. In
the international proceedings which
since have been conducted for the
regulation of the laws of maritime
war, Germany and America have
Jointly advocated progressive princi-
pies, especially the adjustment OF the
right of capture at sea and the pro-
lection Of the interests of neutrals.
Hope for Establishment OF Freedom of
Seas.
Even at the beginning of the pres
enr war the German government i'm
mediately declared its willingness in
response to proposals Of the Ameri-
can government, to Tatify the declar-
alton OF London and thereby subject
itself to the use OF its 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 from
the measures Of war. The imperial
government cherishes the definite hope
that some way viii be found when
peace is concluded, or perhaps earlier,
10 regulate the law Of maritime war in
a manner guaranteeing The freedom
of the seas, and viii welcome 1t with
gratitude and satisfaction if it can
work hand in hand with the Ameri~ /
can government on that occasion.
Hold Selves Guilty Of No Transgres-
sion.
"Ii in the present war the principles !
which should be the ideal of the fu- /
jure have been traversed more and /
more. the longer it's duration. the
German government has no guilt I
therein II is known to the American /
government how GeTmany's adverse /
riess by completely paralyzing peace |
able traffic between Germany and /
the neutral countries, have aimed, /
from the very beginning, and with in !
oreasing lack of consideration, at the /
destruction, not so much Of the /
armed forces, as the life of the Ger
man nation. repudiating in doing so /
all the rules of international law and /
disregarding all the rights of neu-
trails.
on Nov. 2, 1914 England declared |
the North Sea a war area, and by |
planting poorly anchored mines and by
the stoppage and capture Of vessels
made passage way extremely danger
Gus and affHru1f for neutral shining