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The Commoner
TCJLY- 1915
17
Germany's Reply to Amer
ican Note
The text of Germany's reply to the American
note of June 10, 1915, as carried in the press
reports, follows:
Berlin, July 9, 1915.
"The undersigned has the honor to make the
following reply to his excellency, Ambassador
Gerard, to the note of the 10th ultimo, re the
impairment of 'American interests by the German
submarine war. The Imperial German govern
ment learned with satisfaction from tho note
how earnestly the government of the United
States is concerned in seeing the principles of
humanity realized in the present war. Also this
appeal finds ready echo in Germany and the im
perial government is quite willing to permit its
statements and decisions in the present case to
be governed by the principle of humanity, Just
as it has done always.
"The Imperial German government welcomed
with gratitude when tho American government
in the note of May 15 itself recalls that Germany
had always permitted itself to be governed by
the principles of progress and humanity in deal
ing with tho law of maritime war. Since the
time when Frederick the Great negotiated with
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson the treaty of friendship and commerce
of September 9, 1785, between Prussia and the
republic of the 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 peaceable trade. In the interna
tional proceedings which since have been con
ducted for the regulation of the laws of mari
time war, Germany and America have joincly
advocated progressive principles, especially tho
abolishment of the right of capture at sea and
protection of the interest of neutrals.
"Even at the .beginning of the present war the
German .government immediately declared its
willingness, in response to proposals , of the
American government, to ratify i .the, declaration
of jLpndon .and thereby subject itgelf .in the use
of its,, naval, forces to aH , the restrictions
provided therein in favor pf jieutrajs. Germany
likewise has been always tenacious of the prin
ciple that war should be conducted against the
armed and organized forces of an enemy coui
try, but that the enemy civilian population must
be spared as far as possible from the measures
of war. The Imperial government cherishes the
definite hope that some way v. ill be found when
peace is concluded, or perhaps earlier, to regu
late the law of maritime war in a manner guar
anteeing the freedom of the seas, and will wel
come it with gratitude and satisfaction if it can
work hand-in-hattd with the American govern
ment on that -occasion.
"If in the present war tho principles which
should be the ideal Of the 'uture have been trav
ersed more and more, the longer its duration;
the German government has no guilt therein. J.t
is known to the American government how Ger
many's adversaries, by completely- paralyzing
peaceable traffic between Germany and neutral
Countries, have aimed "'from the very beginning
and with increasing lack c I consideration at cne
destruction not so much of the armed forces as
the life of the German nation, repudiating In do
ing so, all the rules of international law and dis
regarding all rights of neutrals.
"On November 3, 1914, England declared the
North sea a war area and by planting poorly an
chored mines and by the stoppage and capture
of vessels made passage ex'.emely danger
ous and difficult for neutral shipping, so Dy
actually blockading neutral coasts and ports
contrary to all international law. Long before
the beginning of submarina warfare England
practically completely intercepted legitimate
neutral navigation to Germany also. Thus Ger
many was driven to a submarine war on trade.
"On November 14, 1914, the English premier
declared in the house of commons that it was
one of England's principal tasks to
prevent food for the German population
from reaching Germany via neutral ports. Since
March 1 England fcas been taking from neutiai
ships without" further formality all merchandise
proceeding to Germany as well as all merchandise
coming from Germany, even when- neutral prop
erty. Just as it was ajso with the Boers, the
German people are now to he given the choice
of perilling from starvation with its women and
children or of relinquishing its independence.
"While, our enemies thus mv 0l
proclaimed war .without mercy until our utter
destruction, wo were conducting a war of solf- of war. Consequently, accidents suffered by
defense for our national existence and for tho neutrals on onemy ships in this area of war can
sake of peaco of an assured permanency. Wo not well bo Judged differently from accldonts to
jmvu uuun ouugeu io auopt a submarine warfare , wnicn noutraia aro at an iimcs exposeu ut, i-w
to meet tho declared intentions of our enemies ' scat of war on land when they betako thomsolveft
and tho method of warfaro adopted by them in x into dangerous localities in spite of prcvlouH
contravention of international law.
."With all its efforts in principlo to protect
neutral life and property from damage as much
as possible, the German government recognized
unreservedly in its memorandum of February 4 ,
that the interests of neutrals might suffer from
tho submarine warfare. However, the Amor-
lean government will also understand and ap
preciate that in the fight for existence which has
been forced upon Germany by its adversaries and
announced by them, It is the sacred duty of the
Imperial government to do all within its power v
to protect and save tho lives of German sub
jects. If the Imperial government were derelict
in these, its duties, it would b guilty before God
and history of the violation of those principles
of highest humanity which aro tho foundation
of every national existence.
"Tho case of tho Lusitanla shows with hor
rible clearness to what jeopardizing of human
lives the manner of conducting war employed by
our adversaries leads. In the most direct con
tradiction of international law all distinctions be
tween merchantmen and war vessels havo Ieon
obliterated by the order of the British merchant
men to arm themselves and to ram submarines,
and the promise of reward': therefore, and neu
trals who Use merchantmen ar travelers thereby
have been exposed in an increasing degree wO '11
tho dangers of war.
"If the commander of tho German submarine
which destroyed tho Lusitania had caused tho
crew and passengers to tako to the boats beff re
firing a torpedo, this would have meant tho suro
destruction of his own vessel. After tho exper
lencesin sinkingmiichsmallerand less seawortny
vessels, it was to be expected that a mighty ship
like thO Lusitanla would remain above water
long enough even after tho torpedoing to permit
passengers to enter tho ship's boats. Circum
stances of a very peculiar kind, especially he
presence on board of largo quantities of highly
explosive materials defeated this expectation. Tn
addition, it may be pointed out that if the Lu
sitania had been spared thousands of cases of
munitions would havo be i sent to Germany's
enemies and thereby thousands of German mo. It
ers and children, robbed of breadwinners.
"In. the spirit of friendship, wherewith the
German nation has been imbued toward the
United' States and its Inhabitants since the ear
liest days of its existence,' the Imperial govern
ment will always bo ready to do all it can dur
ing the .present war also to prevent tho jeopard
izing of 'lives of American citizens. The Imperial
government, therefore, repeats the assuranf,
that American ships will not be hindered in tho
prosecution of legitimate shipping and the Jives
of American citizens in neutral vessels shall not
do placed in jeopardy.
t -.i tn nvnlmln nntr nnfnroonn fbncirn mi... .i t., f ....f ,.. in flnfmanxf iUn nnntt 'y&t.
to American passenger ster.mers, made possible . strongly sympathize with Germany on the other
,.!,., nt fha strwllipf tt ITiarillmfi VUtlV llV fiftl- ..! ...., n uniirnn wTifafl wnillfl V0 Tlttlnftll tO
J1UI1U UlgU I ,iuuw "ivi. .w ... - .----
'warnings. If, however, it should not ho poBBt&lf
ior mo yvmencan goveriimu iv io huuuiii; uuu
quato number of neutral passenger steamers, Jm
imperial government Is prepared to Intorposo jic
objections to tho placing under tho Araorlcar
flag by tho American government of four enomj
passenger steamers for passenger traffic betwew
North America and England. Assurances of
'free and safo' passage for American passenger
steamers would oxtend to apply undor tho idoi
tlcal pro-conditions to these formerly hostile
passenger steamers.
"The president of tho United States has do
clared his readiness In a way deserving ov
thanks, to communicate rnd suggest proposali
to tho government of Great Britain with pavric
ular reference to the alteration of maritime wa
The imperial government will always bo glad tc
make uso of the good offices of the president and
hopes that his efforts in tho present case p.
well as In the direction of tho lofty ideal of the
frocdoih of the seas will lead to an under
standing. Tho undersigned requests tho ambas
sador to bring tho above ,o the knowledge ot
the American government and avails himself of
tho opportunity to renew to his excellency tho
assurance of his most distinguished consldcr.tr
tion. "VON JAGOW.'
STATEMENT BY Mil. BRYAN
Press dispatches from Los Angoles, CaJ under
date of July 11, carried the following statement
issued by Mr. Bryan concerning Germany's roply
to the American note of June 10, 1915;
"I have not had an opportunity to read many
editorials in full but I havo read extracts from
a number of editorials as they havo been repro
duced in San Francisco and Xos Angeles papers.
In selecting editorials for reproduction e,vcryr
thing depends on tho judgment exercised in
making tho selections. It is improper to Judge
from the few that havo been reproduced -yhat
tho general sentiment Is.
"Tho bias of tho editor or purchaser must al
ways bo born In mind when ono roads an qditori
al, because tho bias largely determines the qn.P
of tho comment. n
"We have In this country a number of new
papers which strongly sympathize with the Allies
and a iuimber of papers which strongly sympa
thize with Germany, but tho great majority of
the people are neutral in fooling as well - ft in
impression and do not take tho extreme views
represented by either of the groups above-mqn-tioncd.
"To Illustrate what I mean if you will read
the papers which strongly sympathize with the
Allies you will find that, either intentionally -it
unintentionally, they urge our government to
pursue a course which would be helpful to the
in viftw of the conduct of maritime war by Gor
many's adversaries, German submarines wijl
be instructed to permit the free and safe pas
sage of such passenger steamers when made rec
ognizable by special markings and notified a
reasonable time in advance. The Imperial go
ernment, however, confidently hopes that the
American government will ascumo to guaran
tee that these vessels hae no contraband on
board, details of arrangement for tho unham
pered passage of these vessels to be agreed upon
by the naval authorities of both sides.
"In order to furnish adequato facilities for
travel across the Atlant'c for American citlzeno,
the German government submits for considara
tion a proposal to increase the number of avail
able 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 conditions as the above
mentioned American steamers'.
"The Imperial government believes it can as
sume that in this manner adequate facilities
for travel across the Atlantic ocean can be af
forded American citizens. There would therefore
appear to be no compelling necessity for Amer
ican citizens to travel to Europe In time of wir
on ships carrying an enemy flag- In particular
the Imperial government Is unable to admit hat
American citizens can protect an enemr ship
through the mere fact of their presence on tooard.
"Germany merely iollowedt England's examjvlo
when she declared part of the high seas an area
Germany and hurtful to the Allies. Each aide,
influenced quite naturally "y its nympatnies, mw
so defines national honor as to carry out Us
views. The mass of the American people, how
ever, if I know their sentiments, arc interested
solely protesting against encroachments on
American interest.
"It is Just as unneutral f r a pro-ally paper to
Insist upon our helping the Allies as it is unneu
tral for the pro-German papers to insist jpon
our helping Germany. The pro-ally papers want
this government to stop the submarine warfare
and the pro-German papers want us to put ai
embargo on arms and ammunition, but as a neu
tral nation we have no more right to interfere
in' the Interests of the Allies than we have to n
terfere In the interests of Germans.
"Each individual has his opinion as to the
Inhumanity of drowning or starving non-corit
batants, but it is not our business as a neulra
nation to regulate the method:; employed by ch
belligerents in dealing with each other, except
Insofar as we And It necessary to do so to protect
American rights or can by our good offices In
fluence them to moderate their conduct toward
each other.
"I bqlieve that a large majority of the people
will heartily approve any step the president may
see t fit to take to , keep Americans from' tie
danger zone-or keeping' them from .contraband
'ship's. It is not a sacrifice of rights to avoid 'uk
necessary risks."
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