The Spectator., 1915-06-01
GERMANS FINAL
 DECISION WITHHELD
GERMAN NOTE SAYS pASSEN. GERS COULD HAVE ESCAPED
 FROM lUSITANIA.
WILL PAY FOR NEUTRAL SHIPS
Makes No Promise to End Submarine War While England Tries to
 Starve Out Germany.

Berlin.-Germany withholds its Hnal decision on the demands ad vanced by the United States govern ment in connection with the sinking of the Lusitania, until the receipt of an answer from the United States to the note which Herr von Jagow. the foreign minister has delivered to Am bassador Gerard in reply to the Amer ican note received by the German government on May Is.
 In its reply the German govern. ment declares that it is not it's inten- ton to submit neutral ships in the war zone, which are guilty of no hos tile acts, to attacks by submarines or aeroplanes; that it is Investigating the circumstances in connection with the attacks on the American steamers Cushing and Gulflight, and that in all cases where neutral vessels, through no fault of their own, have been dam aged, Germany will pay indemnifica- tion
 The reply urges that in the case of the Lusitania, which Germany al leges was armed and carried large stores of war munitions, it was act. ing in justified self-defense in seek ing with all the means of warfare at its disposition to protect the lives of its soldiers by destroying ammuni. tion intended for the enemy" The German government recalls the proposals submitted by the United States government to Berlin And London, designed to end the subma- rine warfare and the shutting out of food supplies from Germany, which it declares failed of their purpose be- cause of the refusal of the British government to agree to them.
 The following is the text of the German note:
 "The undersigned has the honor to submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol- lowing answer to the communication of May 16. regarding the injury to American interests through German submarine warfare.
 The imperial government has sub jected the communication of the Amer jean government to t4 thorough investi- gation. It entertains also keen wish to cooperate in frank and friendly way in clearing up a possible misun-  the relations between the two govern ments through the events mentioned by the American government.
 Regarding. firstly, the cases of the American steamers Cushing and Gulf light, the American embassy has al ready been informed that the German government has no intention of sub hitting neutral ships in the war Zone which are guilty of no hostile acts, to attacks by submarine or submarines or aviators. On the contrary. the Ger man forces have repeatedly been in- structed most specifically to avoid at tacks on such ships.
 "If neutral ships in recent months have suffered through the German sub marine warfare, owing to mistakes in identification, it is a question only of quite isolated and exceptional cases. which can be attributed to the British governments abuse of flags, together with the suspicious or culpable beha- Vior of the masters of the ships.
 "The German government in all cases in which it has been shown by it's in- vestigations that a neutral ship. not itself at fault, was damaged by German submarines or aviators, has expressed regret over the unfortunate accident, and. if justified by conditions, has of fered indemnifcation.
 f'The cases of the Cushing and the Gulflight will be treated on the same principles. An investigation of both cases Is in progress, the result of which will presently be communicated to the
 
 necessary, be supplemented by an in- ternational call on the international commission of inquiry, as provided by article of The Hague agreement of October IS. 1907.
 When sinking the British steamer Falaba, the commander of the German submarine had the intention of allow ing the passengers and crew full op- portunity for safe escape. Only when the commander did not obey the order to heave to, but fled and sum- moned help by rocket signals did the German commander order the crew and passengers by signals and megaphone to leave the ship within ten minutes He actually allowed them twenty-three minutes time and fired the torpedo only when suspicious craft were has, tcning to the assistance of the Falaba
 Regarding the loss of life by the sinking of the British passenger steam CT Lusitania. the German government has already expressed to the neutral governments concerned it's keen regret that citizens of their states lost their lives.
 "On this occasion the imperial gov ernment, however. cannot escape the impression that certain important facts having direct bearing on the sinking of the Lusitania may have escaped the attention of the American govern ment.
 Tn the interest of clear and com piete Understanding. which is the aim of both governments, the imperial gov ernment considers it first necessary to convince itself that the information accessible to both governments about the facts of the case is complete and fin accord.
 "rhe government of the United States proceeds on the assumption that the Lusitania could be regarded as an ordinary unarmed merchantmen The imperial government allows itself in this connection to point out that the A~----~~--~--->-~-~-~->--
 President Wilson's Father.
 In an address at Washington re- cantly before the Potomac nresbytery