Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-09
stop for examination when signaled by
submarines

Why the German foreign office
caused the transmission informally of
the tentative text Of the reply Is still
mystery. German officials here say
they do not understand the reason.
State department officials say they
have not been furnished with any rea-
son either by Ambassador Gerard or by
the German officials in Berlin.
The general opinion Of American Of
flcials is that the German foreign Of
flee is seeking to determine in advance
the character Of the reception that will
be accorded the proposals drafted by
the Berlin officials.
Reply cooily Received.
Berlin now is aware Of the fact that
the tentative reply has been coldly re-
ceived by the president and his ad-
visers. Whether knowledge of that
fact will cause the German officials to
change the communication so as to
meet more nearly the demands pre-
sented by President Wilson remains to
be seen.
The impression is growing. however,
that wha tever turn the correspondence
between the two nations may take,
there is no danger Of serious trouble
developing unless German submarine
should sink an unresisting merchant
vessel carrying Americans.
The administration will make civil
answer to the German proposals, what
ever they may be in their formal form,
and the discussion may be somewhat
prolonged.
Some Proposals Acceptable.
According to administration officials,
some of the German proposals in the
tentative answer can be accepted by
the United States in substance. if not
in form, while others it would be nee
essary to reject unless the president is
ready to recede from the position he
has taken in three notes to Berlin.
Take. for example. Germany's desire
to be assured that an enemy merchant
vessel sailing from the United States
is unarmed. State department officials
say certification of that fact in regard
to each belligerent merchant vessel
would leave the inference that it might
be possible for an armed merchantmen
to sail from American ports, whereas
the fact that a merchantmen has
cleared is conclusive proof that the
customs inspectors found the craft
unarnned Germany, say administra-
ton officials, need have no fear that
armed vessels will be allowed to clear.
It is asserted that it would be vio-
lation OF neutrality for the United
States to notify Germany Of the time
Of sailing of British or other enemy
ships. for the reason that 1t would con-
stitute communication Of military in
formation to belligerent. For more
than two months the state department
has been advising Berlin Of the sailing
OF American vessels and of the time
they might be expected to appear in
the submarine war zone, but this in
wolves no question Of neutrality.
Administration officials contend that
this practice is not a recognition in
any degree Of the submarine opera
tions. Berlin requested the infofma- =
tion for tho purpose OF aiding subma- =
rine commanders to avoid accidental
attacks on American ships.
Would 1etray Secrets.
Certifcation of the character Of
cargo carried by a vessel and Of the
presence or absence Of war munitions
garded by administration officials as
constituting a communication Of mill
tary intelligence to belligerent and
therefore unneutral.
II the United States should certify
that this or that ship merely carried
passengers Germany thereby would OBJ
tain knowledge that ships so certified
carried munitions Of war. therefore.
say administration officials, it would
be violation Of neutrality to carry out
the program Of certi1cation suggested
by Germany.