The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-11

ner OF conducting war employed BY
our aAversaries leads. In the most
direct contradiction of internationsi
/ law all distinctions between merch-
anthem and war vessels have been
Iobiiterated by the order to British
merchantmen 10 arm themselves and
| to ram submarines and the promise
| of rewards therefor and neutrals who
use merchantmen M travellers thereby
have been exposed in an increasing
degree to all the dangers Of war.
Would Wrought Own Destruction.
! II the commander of the German
tsubnnarine which destroyed the Iusi-
tania has caused the crew and pas
sengers 10 take to the boats before
firing a torpedo, this would have
meant the sure destruction OF his own
vessel. After the experiences in sink
Ing such smaller and less seaworthy
vessels 1t was to be expected That
mighty vessel like the Lusitania
would remain above water long
enough. even after the torpedoinE, to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. Circumstances Of very pc
lculisr kind. especially the presence
on board of large quantities OF highly
explosive materials words omitted.
possibly "dlssipated") this expecta-
ton.
In addition. q may be pointed out
that II the Iusitania had been spared
thousands of cases Of munitions would
have been sent 20 Germany's enemies
and thereby thousands OF German
no,hsrs ard children robbed of bread
winners
! I'm the mpartt Of friendship wherewfth
the German nation has been sMbued TO-
ward the Union ana sts Inhabitants
STAGE the earliest days Of tits existence.
--Au al VS. q
re- mAy to do all IL can Aurfng the pres
ens war. also 10 prevent the jecparass-
ing of lives sf Amerfcan cftizens. The
,mrerfai government. therefore, repeats
the assurances that American shsPs viii
not be hinaered In the prosecution Of
legitimate shipping, and the lives OF
American citizens I'm neutral vessels
shmIi net be placed I'm jeopardy.
Conditions of Protection.
| In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
rrs. made possible in view OF the con-
duct Of maritime war by Germany's
adversarics, Germany submarines Will
he instructed to permit the free and
safe passage of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by special
markings and notified reasonable
time I'm advance. The Imperial gov
tEHaEtitFfs NOWSNOks SSsttfAe%S ss"kSO1
that the American government win
assume 10 guarantee that theee ves-
4 sells have no contraband on board. de-
tails OF arrangement for the un-
hampered passages of these vessels to
be agreed upon by the naval authOTf.
/ ties Of both sides.
' In order to furnish adequate facili-
| ties for travel across the Atlantic for
/ American citizens the German govern
ment submits for consideration a pro-
( posal to increase the number OF avail
able steamers by installing In pasen-
yer service reasonable number OF
| neutral steamers under the American
/ flag, the exact number to be agreed
upon under the same condition as the
| above mentioned American steamers
/ Thu Imperial Government believes
| IL can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across
! the Atlantic Ocean can be Afforded
/ American citizens There would,
therefore. appear to he no compelling
necessity for American citizens 70
| travel 10 Europe in time of war on
ships carrying an enemy flag. In par
ticuiar, the Imperial Government IL
| unable to admit that American CIT
/ ixens can protect an enemy snip
| through the mere fact OF their pres
ence on board.
Merely Follows England's Example
Germany merely followed England
! example when she declared part o
the high seas an area of war Con-
seouently, ACCIDENTS suffered by neu-
trails on enemy ships in this area OF
| war cannot well be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrais are
| NJ all times exposed at the seat OF war
on land when they betake themselves
! into DANGEROUS localities in spite o.
previous warnings
II. however. n should not be pos
I Ribie for the American government ts
acquire an adequate number OF neutra
passenger steamers, the Imperial gov
eminent 10 prepared to interpose M
| objections TO the placing under th'
! American flag by the American govern.
! ment of four enemy passenger steamers
| for passenger trafic between NORTH
America and England. Assurances o.
! free and safe" passage for American
! ma sssnger steamers would then extend
/ 10 apply under the identical pro-con'
/ aftions 10 these formerly hostile pas.
| sen9er steamers
! The President Of the United States
has declared his readiness, in wal
4 deserving Of thanks, to communicate
! and suggest proposals TO the govern
| ment OF Great Britain with parasGs.'
lar reference TO the alteration of mari
time war. The Imperial government
| will always be glad to make use O
| the GOOD off1ces OF the President and
/ hopes that his efforts in the presen
| case, as well "a In the direction Of the
! lofty ideal Of the freedom of the seas
/ will lead to an understanding.
| Undersigned requests the ambas
/ sador to bring the above TO the
| knowledge OF the American govern
! ment. and awaits himself Of the op
i portunity to renew to Hts Excellency
1 the assurance Of his most ,iistin.
! guished consideration.
/ fEfixnadl Won IAGOW.