The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
JACOW EXPLAINS
 GERMAN POSITION
 ON AMERICAN NOTE
Associated Press Gets State ment Telling Why No Def mite Answer Given at
 Present Time

Berlin, May 30-Via London, May 3l. 3;3e ?. m.)-Gottlieb Von Jagow the imperial German foreign secretary. today received the correspondent of the Associated Press and outlined the reasons which impelleJ the German government to send an ad interim note to the United States govern ment instead of a final and definite reply to the American representa- tions regard ing the Lusitania and other ships that have been torpedoed and Germany's sup- marine policy.
 "The issues involved" said Herr von Iagow. are of such importance and the views in regard to the Lusitania show such variance. that the German govern establish a common basis of fact before entering into a discussion of the issues involved
 We hope and trust that the American government will take the same view of the case and let us know in what points the understanding of the facts differ from the German viewpoint as set forth i, the note and in what points they agree, before looking for a direct answer to their communication.
 Way Left Open
 ne Ame1lcdn note, or course, leaves the way open for a preliminary discus sion of the situation as suggested in the German note. I hope that such com- mon basis of fact, once established, may serve as the ground work for further con- versa tions."
 The minister was unwilling to give Il more definite outline to or to comment on the suggestion that an arrangement might be reached on basis of an inspec- tiOn and rtifiPa tinp bN ha American government of passenger ships not carry ing war eargoes. pointing out that he did not feel entitled to anticipate, as the other departments of the government must be heard before suggestions could be defi- nitely taken up or discussed. Dr. Von Jagow expressed pleasure at the newspaper announcement that Ameri- traband, but he suggested the advisabil- ity of supplementing such newspapers statements by more definite authorita- tive announcements
 Replying to a question, Dr. Von Jagow said that Germany at the outset had been willing to abandon her submarine war against merchantmen in response to a return by Great Britain to the regula- tions of war regarding contraband gen i erally accepted before the war, the spe- cific condition being the lifting of the embargo on foodstuffs and raw materials TOW on the list of conditional contraband It was not Germany's fault, but Great Britain's. he said. that the well meant proposals of the United States for com promise failed.
 Matter of Principle The question of foodstuffs and raw materials" Dr. von Jagow said, 'is not Q question of necessity for Germany, pul one of principle. Germany has shown, think, that it cannot be starved out by Great Britain's emuargo on food stuffs We may be a little short of some or afi- 1 other particular food product, but we | have enough to live on and keep up the struggle.
 '"rhe same is true of raw materials | with which, according to the London declaration, belligerents have no right to | interfere when they are not specifically destined for the armed forces of an en, emy. 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 defeat the Ger | man armies legitimately on the battlefield, | 1t is entitled to try to force the nation to | its knees by economic pressure disre- | garding all accepted precepts and regula- | tions of war.
 ! 'The analogy of the besieged fortress | does not apply to Germany. The resident | "io SettieS III u lorlfeSS uOeS so cOBnlZdnt | of the risk and aware that he can leave
 before the siege begins; but there is no precedent for the siege of the civilian 1 population of a whole nation in it's own | land with no possibility of escape Ger many will fight such an unjustified | method of war with all the means at her | disposal"
 | No Information on Nebraskan Dr. Von Jagow said he had absolutely
 no information regarding the American i steamer Nebraskan, which was damaged l by an explosion in the Irish sea last week and in the absence of any definite new
 as to whether the ship was torpedoed or | struck mine he declined to express any 1 opinion as to the effect of the incident | on the pending negotiations. The Ne | hraskan, in any event, Dr. Von JagoW said, was not torpedoed with design by
 q German submarine. German policy re-
 sarding neutral shipping, even in the war zone had been enunciated clearly. mere was no intention of attacking neu- tral ships.
 Are you an optimist or a pessimist regarding the German-American situa- uon the correspondent asked as he wa g | taking his leave of the foreign minister
 How can tell you how our note will De received?' replied Dr. Von Jagow. ..l
 nave no means of communicating with the lampassador at Washington or of gauginc | ppblc sentiment. Wireless communica- tion IS limited and rather unsatisfa ctory mere are no means for cabling and the open wireless messages we are sendin 9 are read or interfered with by British sta
 tons. We are virtually cut off from Amer
 ica and are working in the dark"