The Washington times., 1915-07-11
FoRpIoN orFuCp. BERLIN.

July \, lslo.
Secretary of State. Washington:
The undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to the
note of his exceilency. Mr.. James
w. Gerard. ambassador OF the
United States OF America, dated
the tenth ultimo. foreign office
number 1914, on the subject OF the
Impairment OF American interests
by the German submarine war.
The imperial government has
learned with satisfaction from the
note how earnestly the GovernmdiI
OF the United states is concerned m
seeing the principles OF humanity
realized In tho present war.
sympathy in Germany and the i'm
perial government Is quite willing
to permit its statements and de-
cisions In the case under consideia-
ton to be governed by the prin-
cirles Of humanity just as 1t has
done always.
Welcomed With Gratitude.
The imperial government welcomed
1t with gratitude when the Amert-
can Government In It's note OF May
is, 1915. itself recalled that Germany
had always permitted itself to be
governed by the principles OF prog
ress an1 humanity In dealing with
the law OF maritime war.
Since the time when Frederick the
Great NEGOTIATED with John Adams.
Jefferson the treaty Of friendship
and commerce OF September 10. 17S5.
between Prussia and the Republic
of the West, German and American
statesmen have in fact always stood
together in the struggles for the
% hA M Fn-
lection Of peaceable trade.
In the international proceedings
which have since been conducted
for the regulation Of the right of
maritime war Germany and America
have Jointly advocated progressive
ment Of the right Of capture at sea
and the protection OF the interests
OF neutrals. Even at the beginning
Of the present war the German gov
ernment Immediately declared It's
Willingness. In response to the pro-
posal Of the American Government.
to ratify the declaration Of London
and thereby to subject itself. in the
use OF its naval forces, to all the
restrictions provided therein in fa-
vor of neutrals. Germany has like
wise been always tenacious OF the
Quoted against the armed and organ
tied forces Of the enemy country.
but that the civilian population OF
the enemy must be spared as far as
possible from the measures of war.
The imperial government cherishes
the definite hope that some way will
be found when peace Is 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 graft
tude and satisfaction II II can work
hand in hand with the American
Has No Guilt.
II in the present war the principles
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.
It Is known to the American gov
ernment how Germany's adversaries,
by completely paralyzing pea cea BILE
traffic between Germany and the
neutral countries, have aimed from
the very beginning, and with in
Creasing lack of consideration, at
the destruction not SO much of the
armed forces as the life OF the Ger
man nation, repudiating in so doing
all the rules OF International law and
disregarding all the rights of neu-
trails.
On November 2, 1914. FnCland do
clared the North Sea to be q war
area and by plaHllnH poorly dnChur -.
mines and the stoppagc and capture
OF vessels made passage extremely
dangerous and difficult for neutral
shipping, so that It Is actually