Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-10

embodied in the, reply to the Unitea
States note regarding the sinking OF
the sL1itania and submarine warfare
which was delivered to James w. Ger
ara, the American ambassador last
night, is:
First. Reiterated assurance that
American ships engaged In legitimate
trade will not be interfered with nor
the lives of Americans upon neutral
ships be endangered.
Second That German submarines
Will be instructed to allow American
passenger ships to pass freely ana
safely. Germany entertaining in return
the confident hope that the American
government Will see that these SHIPS
do not carry contraband; such ships
to be provided with Distinguishing
marks and their arrival announced
reasonable time in advance. The same
privilege Is extended to a reasonable
number OF neutral passenger ships I'M
der the American flag, and should Inc
number OF ships thus available tor
passenger service prove Inadequate
Germany Is willing TO permit America
to place four hostile passenger steam
ers under the American flag TO ply pc
tween North America and Europe I'M
der the same conditions.
Text of Note.
The text of the German note 1ol-
lows:
"The undersigned has the honor TO
make the following reply to HIS Elk
cellency, Ambassador Gerard, TO the
note of the 10th, uitin1o. re the I'M
pairnlant Of American interests oy lhe
German submarine war. The Imperial
government learned with Satisfaction
from the note how earnestly the gov
eminent OF the United states is con-
.cerned in seeing the principles Of hu-
manity realized in the present war. Also
this appeal finds ready echo In Ger
many and the imperial government IS
quite willing 10 permit its statements
and decisions IN the present case TO De
governed by the principles Of human
aty Just as 1t has done always.
THE imperial government welcomed
with gratitude when the American
government IN the note OF May 10 it
1elf recalled that Germany had always
<,e11utttea Itself 70 De governed 81 tse
principles Of progress and humanity IN
dealing with the law Of maritime war.
Since the time when Frederick the
Great negotiated with John Adams,
Heutanfn Franklin ana Thomas JET
ferson the treaty of friendship and
commerce Of September 8, 17s5, be-
tween Prussia and the republic on me
west, German and American statesmen
have, in fact, always stood together IN
the struggle for the freedom OF the
seas and for the protection Of peace
fable trade. In the international pro-
.ceedings which since have been con-
iducted for the regulation Of the laws OF
have Jointly advocated progressive
iinrinctples, especially the adjustment
!, Of the right OF capture at sea and the
protection Of the interests of neutrals.
Hope For Freedom Of Seas.
Gwen at the beginning Of the pres
ent war the German government I'M
medietely declared Its willingness, IN
response to proposals OF the American
government, to ratify the declaration
Of London and thereby subject itself to
the use Of its naval forces to all the
restrictions provided therein in FAVOR
of neutrals. Germany. likewise. has
been always 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 mist be spared as
far as possible from the measures o.
war. The imperial government cher :
ishes the definite hope that some way
will be found when peace is concluded
\ or perhaps earlier. to regulate the ia"
of maritime war in a manner guaran-
teeing the freedom OF the seas, and will
welcome IT with gratitude and satisfac-
ton II it can work hand in hand with
the American government on that oc-
casion.
Guilty Of No Transsression.
'If in the present war the PRINCIPLES
(which should be the ideal of the future
4 have been traversed more and more
the longer It's duration, the GerTnar
government has no guilt therein 1t Is
known to the American government
how Germany's adversaries, by com
pletely paralyzing peaceable traffic be-
tween Germany and the neutral coun-
tries, have aimed, from the very be-
ginning, and with increasing lack o,
Il consideration. at the destruction. not
so much of the armed forces, as the
life OF the German nation, repudiating
in doing so all the rules Of interna-
tional law and disregarding all tbs
rights of neutrals.
'sOn Nov 3. 1914, England declared
the North Sea a war area, and b!
s. planting poorly anchored mines ant
by the StOppage ana Capture u 'CS-
sells made passage way extremely dan
xerous and difficult for neutral ship
ping so (by, % that actually block
aiding neutral coasts and ports contrary
to all international law. Long before
the beginning Of submarine war Eng
land practically completely intercepted
legitimate neutral navigation 20 Ger
many also Thus German was driver
to q submarine war on trade.
National Existence.
ION Nov. IA, 1914, the English pre-
,nier declared in the house of com
mons, that it was one OF England'
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports. Since Marcf
/, England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formalE.
all merchandise proceeding to Germany
az well as all merchandise comins
from Germany. even when neutra
property. Just as it was also witt
che Beers, the German people is nov
to. be given the choice of perishnf
from starvation with its women ant
children or OF relinquishing its indie
pendence.
while our enemies thus ioudl.
and openly proclaimed war withou
mercy until our utter destruction. "
were conducting q war in self defens'
for our national existence and for tn
ssalee Of peace of an assured perrna
nency. We have been obliged to adop