Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-31
JAGoW GIVES REASONS
German Foreign Secretary Would
Establish Common Basis of Fact

Berlin, May 31.-Gottlieb Won JagoW
the imperial German foreign secre-
;tary has outlined the reasons which
impelled the German government to
send an ad interim note to the Unit
ed States government instead OF a
final and definite reply to the Ameri
can representations regarding the
Jusitania and other ships that have
been torpedoed and Germany,s sub
marine policy.
"The issue involved" he said ARE
of such Importance and the views in
regard to the Lusitania show such
variance that the German government
believed it essential to attempt TO
establish a common basis OF TACT De-
fore entering into discussion OF the
issue involved.
eve hope and trust that the Amefi-
ran government will take the same
view of the case and let US kno" IN
what points their understanding OF
the facts differ from the German
viewpoint as set forth in the note
and in what points they agree before
looking for a direct answer to tneh
communication.
"The American note, of course, lea
YES the way open for preliminary
discussion of the situation, as sug-
gested in the German note. hope that
sscb common basis of fact, once es-
tablished, may serve as the ground
work for further conversations.
The minister was unwilling to give
moro definite outline. He expressed
Measure over the newspaper announ-
cment that American line steamships
were not carrying contraband, but ne
enopested the advisability OF sup
nlementing such newspaper state
ments by more definite authoritative
announcements.
Replying to a question: Dr. Won
Jagow said that Germany from the
outset had been willing to abandon
her submarine war against merchant
men in response to a return by Great
Britain to the regulations of war re-
garding contraband generally &C
cepted before the war, the specific
condition being the lifting Of the en-
barge on foodstuffs and raw materlal
now on the list of conditional con-
traband. 1t was not Germany's fault
but Great Britain!s he said that the
well meant proposals of the United
States for compromise failed.
"The question of foodstuffs anc
raw materials" DR.. Jagow said. rs
not a question of necessity for Ger
many. but one of principle. Germany
has shown, it thinks, that it cannot
he starved out by Great Brltalns
embargo on foodstuffs. We may be
a little short in one or another partl'
cular food product, but we have en-
ough to live on and keep up the strug-
gle.
s'The same is true Of raw material
with which according to the London
declaration belligerents have no
right to Interfere, when they are not
specially destined for the armed
forces Of any enemy.
Germany is able to get along even
if the. imports of such materials are
cut off. Germany, however, objects to
the cool assumption Of the British
cabinet that when it is unable to de-
feat the German armies legitimately
on the battlefield it is entitled to try
TO force the nation to its knees by
economic pressure disregarding all
accepted precepts and regulations OF
war.
DR.. Won Jagow said he had no in
formation regarding the American
steamer Nebraskan, which was damag-
ed by an explosion in the Irish Sea
last week. In any event Dr. Won
,Jaeow said the Nebraskan was not
torpedoed with design by German
submarine