The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-07-15

First-Reiterated assurance that American snips
engaged in legitimate trade Will not De nterIsiea
with nor the lives of Americans upon neutral smps
endangered.
SUGGESTS DISTINGUISHING MARKS
second-The German submarines will be instruct
ed allow American passenger snips 70 The
and safely Germany entertaining In return the eo
fdent hope that the American government WIZ 80 80
that these ships do not carry c0ntrapand; sucl sps
to be provided with Distinguishing MARKS anu 'Tg h
arrival announced a reasonable time in advance. Inc
same privilege is extended to reasonable huhDeI
of neutral passenger ships under the american nag
and should the number OF SHIPS thus asaia :; vii
passenger service prove inadequate, Germany is VII
ling to permit America to place four hostle passen
ger steamers under the American flag to ply between
North American and Europe under the same cohui-
tions ~
TEXT OF GERMAN NOTE
The text of the German note follows:
"Berin, July S-The undersigned has the honor
IN make the following reply to his exceliency' Am
hassador Gerard, to the note OF the !Otn uiumo re
tbe impairment of American interests by the uerma
suhmarine war; The imperial German government
rnad with satisfaction from the note how earnest,
" the government of the United States ms
in seeing the principles of humanity reahzea III ':e
Ccrmonv and the imperial government is quite will
ling to permit it's statements and decisions on the
present case to be governed by the principles VI
humanity just as it has done always.
GOVERNED BY MARITIME LAW
sThe imperial government welcomed Win glat ne
tude when the American government, IN tne nGae VI
Nav Is itself recalled that Germany had always
nermitted itself to be governed by the principles o
progress and humanity in dazzling with the law t ol
maritime Since the time when uiu
Great negotiated with John Adams, BenJamn
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, the treaty OF Ifleno
shin and commerce of September y, 1879, between
Prussia and the republic OF the west uera nd a to
American statesman have, in fact, always stooa W.
pether i'm the struggle for the freedom OF the seas
and for the protection of peaceable trade.
ADVOCATED BY THE TWO NATIONS
GIN the international proceedings which, since
have been conducted for the regulation OF the laws
of maritime law, Germany and America nave Jui th
advocated progressive priciples especially lor INC
adjustment of the right of capture at sea anu 'he
protection of the interests OF neutrals. A.
Even at the beginning Of the Presea M ts
Inpness in response to proposals of the American
government to ratfy the declaration OF London ana
thereby subject itself in the use OF It's naVal m
trails. Germany likewise has been always tenacious
of the principle that should be conducted
the armed and organized forces OF an enemy N.Y.
hut that the enemy civilian population must De spar
ed as far as possible from the measures OF war.
FOR FREEDOM OF SEAS
.srh ;mrari.l government cherishes the definite
hone that some way will be found, when peace is con-
Guided or perhaps earlier, to regulate the law Vi
maritime war in manner ;t srat;tude and
satisfaction if it can work hand in hand with the
American government that occasion
"If in the present the principles which shoula
he the ideal of the future have been traversed more
and more, the longer its duration, the German gov
eminent has no guilt therein
RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS IGNORED
at is known to the American government now
Germanys adversaries, by completely paraiyzing
peaceable traffic between Germany and neutrai
Countries have aimed from the very beginning and
with increasing lack of consideration at It's des.ruc
ton not so much of the armed forces as the ire Oh
I.c4.,, IN, dim a
rules of international law and disregarding all the
rights of neutrals. ~,
Con November g. 1914, England declared the
North sea a war area and by planting poorly an.
chored mines and by the stoppage and capture OF
vessels made passage extremely dangerous ana diIi-
cult neutral shipping, (by) that actlon oiock
aiding neutr al coasts and ports contrary to all
national law Long before the beginning OF sub
marine war, England practically completely inter-
cepted legitimate neutral navigation to Germany
also, Thus, Germany was driven to submarine war
trade.
'On November IA, 1914, the English premier de.
clared in the House of Commons that 1t was one OF
Engands principal tasks to prevent 1000 TOT ane
trail ports Since March England has been taxing
from neutral ships without further formanty ai i
merchandise proceeding to Germany, as wen as 81
merchandise coming from Germany, even when nett
trail property Just as it was also with the Beers
the German people is to be given the choice q
perishne from starvation with its women ana cnid-
rem or of relinquishing its independence.
sWhe our enemies thus loudly and openly pro-
claimed war without mercy until utter destruc'
ton we were conducting war in self-defense Ioi
our national existence and for the sake Oh peacs y
am assured uermanency. We have been obliged &c
adopt submarine warfare to meet the declared In
tentions of our enemies and the method OF warfar
adopted by them in contraventlon OF lnternatioha
law.
FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE
.With all its efforts in principle to protect neutra