Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-17
United States Agrees to Set
tIement of Frye Case by
Mixed Commission.
WILLING FOR THE HAGUE
TO INTERPRET TREATIES
Insists, However, Upon Statement by
Imperial Government Regarding
Future Naval Operations.

The American reply to Germany's last
note on the sinking of the American
sailing ship William P. Frye, made
public here today by the State Depart
ment, accepts the proposal that dam
ages be fixed by a mixed commission
and that the disputed treaty provi-
sions be submitted to arbitration at
The Hague. but calls on Germany for
a statement. meanwhile. as to whether
she intends to conduct her future naval
operations in accordance with her in
terpretations Of the Prussian- rica n
treaty or with those of the United
States
The note is regarded as putting the
famous case well on the way to a set
tlement
Text of American Note.
1t is addressed by Secretary Lansing
to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin, and
follows:
You are instructed to present the
following note to the German minister
for foreign affairs:
Under instructions from my govern
ment I have the honor to inform your
eXcellency, in reply to your note of
July 30 in regard to the claim for repa-
ration for the sinking of the William
P. Frye, that the government of the
United States learns with regret that
the objections urged by it against the
submission of this case to the prize
court for decision have not commended
themselves to the imperial German
government. and it equally regrets that
the reasons presented by the imperial
this case to the prize court have failed
| to remove the objection of the govern
| ment of the United States to the adop-
| tion of that course.
"As this disagreement has been
reached after the full presentation of
the views of both governments in our
previous correspondence. a further ex-
! change Of views on the questions in
dispute would doubtless be unproft,
able. and the government of the United
States therefore welcomes your excel
| lencys suggestion that some other way
should be found for settling this case.
"The two methods of settlement pro-
posed as alternative suggestions in
your excellency's note have been given
! careful consideration. and it is believed
| that il they can be combined SC that
they may both be adopted they will
| furnish satisfactory basis for the So
| luton of the questions at issue.
Attitude Of q. S. Government.
"The government of the United States
has already expressed it's desire that
the question of the amount of indem-
nifty to be paid by the imperial German
government under its admitted liability
for the losses Of the owners and cap
tain on account of the destruction OF
! the Frye should be settled by diplo-
matte negotiation, and it entirely con-
ours with the suggestion of the i'm
perial German government that the
i simplest way would be to agree, as
proposed in your note. that each of the
two governments designate an expert
and that the two experts Jointly fix the
amount of indemnity for the vessel and
any American property which may have
been sunk with her. to be paid by the
imperial German government when as.
certained, as stated in your note. 1t Ii
assumed that the arrangement will in
clude some provision for calling in ar
| umpire in case the experts fail tc
agree.
THE government of the United
States notes that your suggestion IL
| made with the express reservation
| that a payment under this arrange
ment would not constitute an admis
sion that American treaty rights hat
| been violated. but would be regarded
by the imperial German governmen!
merely as fulfilling duty or policy
founded on existing treaty stipula.
tions A payment made on this un
Continued on Second Page.)