The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-16

er and less seaworthy vessels, It was
to be expected that a mighty ship like
the Lusitania would remain above
water long enough eve after the tor
pedoing to permit passengers to enter
b ships boats. Circumstances of q
very peculiar kind, especially the pres
ence on board of large quantities Of
highly explosive materials (Word omit
ton. In addition it may be pointed
out that il the Lusitania had been
spared thousands of cases OF NUM-
lions would have been sem to Ger
many's enemies and thereby thousands
OF German mothers and children
robbed Of bread winners.
In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the Union and its inhabi-
tants since the earliest days of it's ex-
istence, the imperial government will
always be ready to do all it can during
h present war also to prevent the
jeopardizing of lives of American citi-
zens. The imperial government, there
fore, repeats the assurances thai
American ships will not be hindered in
the prosecution of legitimate shipping
and the lives of American citizens on
neutral vessels shall not be placed in
Jeopardy.
"In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view of the co1-
duct of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by special
markings and notified a reasonable
time in advance. The imperial gov
eminent, however, confidently hopes
that the American government will as
sumo to guarantee on board, details
of arrangement for the unhampered
passage of these vessels to be agreed
on by the naval authorities of both
sides.
"In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German govern
ment submits for consideration a pro-
posal to increase the number of availa-
bic steamers by installing in passenger
service a reasonable number of neutral
steamers under the American flag, the
exact number to be agreed upon under
the same condition as the above men
toned American steamers.
1.-THE imperial government believes
it a assume hat in this manner adj
equate facilities for travel across the
atlantic Ocean can be afforded Ameri-
a citizens. There would, therefore,
appear to be no compelling necessity
for American citizens to travel to Eu-
rope in time of war on ships carrying
an enemy flag.
"The imperial government is unable
to admit that American citizens can
protect an enemy ship through the
mere fact of their presence on board.
Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared part
of the high sea an area of war. Con-
s%equently, accidents suffered by neu-
trails on enemy ships in this area of
war cannot well be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrals are
at all times exposed at the seat of
war on land when they betake them
selves into dangerous localities in spite
of previous warnings.
eff, however, it should not be posi-
BILE for the American government to
require an adequate number of neutral
| passenger steamers, the imperial gov
eminent is prepared to interpose no
objections to the placing under the
American flag by the American gov
| eminent of four enemy passenger
steamers for passenger traffic between
North America and England. Assn
rance of free and safe passage for
American passenger steamers would
extend to apply under the identical
| pro-conditions to these formerly hos.
tile passenger steamers.
'"The president of the United States
has declared his readiness in a way de.
serving of thanks to communicate and
suggest proposals to the government
Of Great Britain with particular refer
ence tt the alteration of maritime
war. The imperial government will
always be glad to make use of the
good Offices Of the president and hopes
that his efforts in the present case, as
we'll as in the direction Of the lofty
ideal Of the freedom of the sea, will
lead to an understanding.
"The undersigned requests the am
bassador to bring the above to the
knowledge of the American govern
ment and avails himself of the oppor.
tunity to renew to his excellency the
| assurance of his most distinguished
| consideration.
"(Signed) Won JAGOW."
FRENCH PRESS COMMENT.