Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-01
German.Americnn Relntionn

German-American Relations
n one Of the contracting parties should be
engaged In war with any other Power, the FREQ
Intercourse and commerce Of the subjects or
citizens OF the party remaining neuter with
the bellEerent Powers shall not be interrupted.
On the contrary In that case, In full peace,
the vessel Of the neutral party may navigate
freely "a and from the ports and the coasts
OF the belEerenG parties, free vessels making
free goods, insomuch that all things shall be
adJudEed free which shall be board any
vessel belonging to the neutral party, although
such things belong 70 enemy Of the otherI
and the same freedom shall be extended to
persons who shall be board free vessel,
although they should be enemies TO tho other
party, unless they should be soldiers In actual
service Of such enemy.
And In the Same Of one OF the contract
Ing parties being engaged In war with any
other Power, to prevent all the difficulties and
Observation-Disclosures that usually arise respect
inE merchandise OF cOntrabnnd, such n arms,
ammunition and military stores of every kind.
no such articles carried In the vessels by
the subjects citizens Of either party, to tho
epemies Of the other, shall be deemed contra
ban1\so as to Induce confiscatlon condemna-
tion GSd loss Of such property to individuals.
Nevertheless IL shall be lawful to stop such
resaels Npd articles and to detain them for
such lenE@ Of time the captors may think
necessary to prevent the Inconvenience dam
age that might ensue from their proceeding,
paying, however' reasonable compensation
for the loss such arrests shall occasion to tho
propretors, and II shall further be allowed to
use In the service. OF the cnptors the whole or
any part Of the military stores detained,
paying the owners the full value of the same,
to be ascertained by the current price Mt the
place of Its atlnhtion.-rrsaty Of 1928 be-
tween Germany and the United States.
TN 1928 the Kingdom of Prussia entered
by treaty into an agreement with the
United States concerning the treatment to
be accorded the ships. property and per-
sons of each others citizens In time of war.
That treaty is still in effect. 1t was given
new ratification and Endorsement by Ger
many itself when that nation only a few
weeks ago appealed to 1t when excusing the
wanton sinking of the American ship Frye
by German cruiser.
This Government, in its note relative to
The LuslGania outrage based its demands on
something more specific than the uncertain
ties Of international law. code which has
been trampled on and interpreted to suit
the convenience OF belllgerents. 1t demanded
OF Germany compliance with its written
agreement, an immediate compliance.
REPLY is EvAsIvE
The reply OF Berlin is evasive and unsat-
isfactory Our interest in what has already
happened is subordinate to our interest in
what Is going to happen. Our Government
must recognize. OF course. that great ma
tion should not be Inundated. No matter how
grievous mistake 1t has made, 1t must
save It's face as best It may and endeavor
80 far as possible to rectify its error with
out stigmatizing itself. But. while making all
due allowances for this situation, Washing
ton cannot sanction discussion OF an OBJ
1ectionable condition while the condition
continues. So far as deeds that have been
committed are concerned. we are ready to
subject our position to the scrutiny of any
fair tribunal; but we are unwilling 20 lay
them before any tribunal whatever so long
as similar outrages are being continued and
in by Germany We are ready
to talk it over. but not while the explosion
Of toFpedoes. sent on their death missions
IN defiance OF law, continues to ring through
the air.
COURSE OF OUR GOVERNMENT
The course OF our Government is clear
Il must point out TO Berlin that our inter-
esis are too vital and immediate to permit
Of long diplomatic delay; that our deter
mination to protect our citizens is unaI-
tered; that we require her treaty obliga-
lions to be carried out to the letter ana
thaf we cannot pariey SO long as our citi-
ssus and property are the vicarious vic
TINS cf 3 kind Of warfare which We cannot
eoantenanoe ana win not endure.
There Is. we are confident. no desire on
the part Of the people OF the United States
Is break our technical friendship with the
Gefzaan Empire. There Is 10 desire among
osffaan people, we surniae n add this Re-
public 70 the list Of their enemies. No great
popHlar snmities hase been aroused. There
is calm throughogt ibis country which
IS remarkable evidences q the common
SENSE Of tae MASSES. Bot there Is Ia this
calm ~ eeEardioe 10 unWnlinsnens 70 meet
ans shution which may arise. Nor are We
aHsaeTsessslgs . ths change which has
come over the German Government Of its
ifnaency recently 70 give more respect 70
nsaEfais e nof az sea. g least iH foFmql
see.ssafloas
fHAcs ~ THE KAlsER's HANDS
si hepe hereiefs tAat spe
s 90 aub-