Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18

ftporno out by comparison with the
ssGerman note. Tho British reply says
sin reference to tho American communi-
cation:
\. Tho reply OF tho German govern
.msnt to this note has been published.
shnd It is not understood that the Ger
IMAM government arc prepared to aban-
isdon tho practice OF sinking British mcr-
sichant vessels by submarines"
- What Germany said officially was as
,follows:
The German government would un-
sderteke not to use their submarines to
s,attack mercantile of any flag except
4lwhen necessary to enforce tho right
iof visit and search"
n The only explanation advanced by
jonicials as possible reason for the
misunderstanding Is that a newspaper
}treport reached Great Britain to the
3,enect that Germany had agreed to
abandon her submarine warfare against
l,.neutrals, but not against bclligcrent
s;,merchantmen. officials declined to say
y, whether this misunderstanding would
furnish tho basis for further ncgotia-
Il tion.
,iIDENTIC NOTE is SENT
TO LONDON AND BERLIN
{, The following identic note was sent
s.by tho Secretary OF State to the Amer
lean ambassadors at London and Ber-
lin:
Washington. February 90, 1915.
You Will please deliver TO Sir Ed
ward Grey. tho following identic note
which We arc sending England and
Germany:
I'm View of the correspondence which
has passed between this government
and Great Britain and Germany rcspec-
lively. relative to tho declaration of a
war zone by the German admiralty
and the use of neutral flags by British
merchant vessels, this government VEN
lures TO express the hope that the two
,belligerent governments, may, through
reciprocal concessions. find basis for
agreement which Will relieve neutral
:ships engaged in peaceful commerce
from the great dangers which they will
slncur in the high seas adjacent to the
.coasts OF tho bellIgerents
: The government Of the United States
respectfully suggests that an agree
smcnt in terms like the following might
:bc entered into.
; Germany and Great Britain to agree:
. Il. That neither will SOW any float
.inG mines; that neither will plant on
lthc high seas anchored mines except
.for defensive purposes only: and that
SfAih pe So constructed as TO
;become harmless II separated from
sthefr mornings
y. That neither Will use submarines
to attack merchant vessels of any
snationality except to enforce the rights
sof visit and search
{ %. That each will require their re-
rspective merchant vessels not to use
.neutral flags for the purpose Of dis
.guise.
SUGGESTIONS MADE
FOR GERMAN AGREEMENT
/. Germany to agree:
= That all importatlons of food or
Sfoodstuffs from the United States (and
tfrom such other neutral countries as
smay ask iD into Germany shall be con-
ssigned TO agencies to be designated by
sthc United States government; that
1these American agencies shall have
centre charge and control without in
reference on the part OF the German
OF the receipt and distri-
.bution OF such importations, and shall
distribute them solely to retail dealers
Clearing licenses from the German gov
,.ernment emitting them to receive and
Furnish such food and foodstufrs to
anon -combatants only, and that such
flood and foodsturfs Will not be requi-
:sitioned by the German government for
!,any purpose whatsoever or he diverted
ITO the use of the armed forces on Ger
smany.
: Great Britain to agree:
I That food and foodstuffs Will not
she placed upon the absolute contrabund
Siist. and that shipments of such com
smodities will not he interfcred with if
consigned to agencies designated by
the United States government i'll Ger
many for distribution solely to the
noncombatant population
In submitting this proposed basis
OF agreement this government does
not wish to be understood as admitting
or denying any belligerent or neutral
right established by, the principles of
international laws. but would con
slider the agreement. II acceptable TO
the interested powers, as not binding
upon the United States until accented
by this government.
BRYAN"
Tho German reply, handed to the
American ambassador at Berlin hrarch
!. 1915.
The undersigned has tho honor TO
inform His Excellency. Mr. James w.
Gerard. ambassador OF tho United
States or America, in reply to the note
or the 22nd instant. that the imperial
.1ih'' SoNei "ihoi't nave taken note
with great interest OF the suggestion
that certain principles for the conduct
OF maritime war on the part OF Ger
many and England be agreed upon for
the protection or neutral ship
ping.
WISHES TO CONDUCT WAR
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES
1T is in accordance with Gerrnany's
wishes to have maritime war CON
Quoted according 10 rules which with
out discriminatory restricting one or
the other OF the belligerent powers I'm