Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07
DECREE OF KAISER
NOT FOR NEUTRALS
Won Sternberg Says American Ships
with Food for Civilians Will
Not Be Molested.
ONLY REsTATEs OLD WAR LAW

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.--The Ger
man embassy declared in a statement
issued today in regard to the decree
placing the waters around the Brit
ish isles in the war zone that Ger
many "does not intend 20 modest or
seize American vessels laden with
foodstuffs for the civilian population
OF enemy countries"
The statement expresses the hope
that England will not make neces-
sary a reconsideration of this atti-
tude by seizing American ships like
the Wilhelmina."
The statement in full follows;
THE German ambassador has not re-
ceived instructions regarding the decision
Of the German admiralty, but according
!. to the text of the decree the following
seems clear:
There is nothing new in the communi-
cation made on February by the Ger
man admiralty with respect to the atti-
tude of the German imperial navy toward
ships of the enemy or toward neutral
commerce. 1t is absurd to describe this
as the proclamation of a paper blockade
Of the British Isles. The communication
is simply statement OF what has been
since the beginning of the war the atti-
tude of the naVies OF all of the belliger-
ent powers toward ships of the enemy.
"A few months ago the English admir-
atty proclaimed the closing Of the North
Sea. the waters of which are essentially
neutral Germany does not profess to
60
commerce and it does not intend to mo-
lest or seize American vessels laden with
foodstuffs for the civilian population of
enemy countries; 1t is to be hoped that
England will not make necessary re-
consideration of this attitude by seizing
American ships like the Wilhelmina-
Germany does, however, announce to
the world that it proposes to continue to
destroy ships belonging to the enemy and
It adds the notification to neutral powers
that on account of the facts that British
ships are employing neutral flags, accord
ing to secret instructions now known to
have been issued by the British govern
ment, bona fide neutral vessels may &C
tuallv be endangered.
Although, according to well under
stood and universally accepted usages of
warfare, naval vessels are perfectly JUS
tilted in destroying merchantmen of the
enemy, the German government now sees
fit to issue simly a general reminder to
that effect, stating the actual radius of
operations of the German submarines.
"The warning also may be taken as In
the nature of an answer to the offer OF
a prize of e500, made in England, for the
first British merchant ship that would
succeed in ramming and sinking a Ger
man submarine, an offer calculated to
revive the long abandoned practice of
privateering."
state Department Note Unanswered.
The State department today had re-
ceived no reply from Ambassador Gerard
sent to him by wireless yesterday asking
him for the text and effect of the Ger
man order. Neither had the German en-
bassy here received it officially 80
Chevalier Van Rappard. minister from
The Netherlands. conferred with acting
Secretary Lansing at the State depart
ment He said he had no instruction.
from his government as yet and wa:
simply preparing himself 10 report wher
called upon the probable attitude of the
United States government toward Ger.
manys action.
1t appeared that the minister's purpose
was to ascertain for his own government
, the likelihood OF a protest by the United
States.
Until the United States receives Off
cially the information it is asking from
Berlin there VII be no announcement o.
it's course.