The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-07-10

Tue text OF the herman note iVi
lows;
Berlin, July s
The undersigned has the honor
10 make the following reply 90 his
excellency. Ambassador Gerard. TO
the note OF the 10th uitimo regard
ing the impairment OF American
. interests by the German submarine
war The imperial government
/. learned with satisfaction from the
! note how earnestly the government
: OF the United States Is concerned
. IN seeing the principles OF human
ity realized In the present war.
Also this appeal finds ready
. echo IN Germany and the imperial
. government Is quite willing 10 per
. NIT the statements and decisions
IN the present case TO be governed
. by the principles OF humanity. Just
. rs IL has done always.
Grateful for Acknowledgement
. The imperial government vel
. coined with gratitude when the
American government. in the note
!. OF MAY 3, itself recalled that Ger.
, many had always permitted itself
I 10 be governed by the principles OF
! progress and humanity 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
Z friendship and commerce OF Sep
) TENDER ., 1855. between Prussia
. and the republic OF the West. Ger.
. man and American statesmen
. have In fact always stood together
: In the struggle for the freedom OF
the seas and for the protection OF
) peaceahle trade.
Nations Of One Purpose
In the international proceed
. ings which since have been con.
. Quoted for the regulation OF laws
OF maritime war, Germany and
America have Jointly advocated
. progressive principles. especially
the adjustment OF the right OF
capture at sea and the protection
OF the interest OF neutrals.
Even at the beginning 81 the
present war the German govern
ment Immediately declared It's
willingness to ratify the declara-
ton OF London and thereby sub
1ect itself. In the use of its na7al
forces. to all the restrictions pro
vided therein In favor OF neutrals.
Would Spare Civilians
Germany. likewise. has been al
ways tenacious OF the principle
that war should be conducted
! against the armed and organized
forces OF an enemy country. but
that the enemy civilian population
must be spared as far az possible
from the measures OF war. The
Imperial government cherishes the
definite hope that some way will
be found when peace IL concluded
or perhaps earlier to regulate the
law OF maritime war In a manner
guaranteeing the freedom OF the
seas. and will welcome II with
gratitude and satisfaction II II can
work hand In hand with the Ameri-
can government on that occasion.
Germany Not Guilty
III In the present war the prin-
cipies which should be the ideal Of
the future have been traversed
more and more, the longer It's dura-
ton. the German government has
no guilt therein. IL Is known TO
the American government how
Germany's adversaries. by COM
pletely paralyzing peaceable traffic
between Germany and neutral
countries. have aimed from the
very beginning and with increas-
ing lack Of consideration at the
destruction. not so much OF the
armed forces as the life OF the Ger
man nation, regulating In doing
so all the rules OF international
law and disregarding all the rights
of neutrals..
"On November 3, 1914. England