The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-24
GERMANY REPLIES
WILL CALL OFF SUBMARINES IF
FOOD Is UNsIOLEsTED.

~
Count von BernstorH Says Campaign
Upon Enemy Merchant Ships Was
a Measure Forced Npon Country.
With only three days remaining be-
fore the German admiralty proposes
to carry into effect its proclamation
ordering a submarine campaign On
enemy merchant ships, Developments
in the diplomatic situation moved
rapidly Monday through the medium
OF the United States government, Gus
todian Of the diplomatic interests OF
the various belligerentS.
Count Won Bernstorf, the German
ambassador, delivered e note to the
United States, which was promptly
transmitted to Great Britain, in
which Germany offered to recede
from her plan Of destroying enemy
merchant ships if restrictions the AL
lies had placed on shipments Of con-
ditional contraband and foodstuffs
destined for the German civilian pop
ulation were removed.
Otherwise, the note announced,
Germany proposes to put into effect
the original proclamation, adding
also the strewing Of mines in waters
surrounding Great Britain and Ire
| land. Alleged arming o5 British mer-
chant vessels is given by the German
government as ground for attacking
enemy merchant ships without
| sea rch or preyiOuS visit
The ambassadors communication
was sent from Berlin before the re-
cent American note was delivered
there and is supplemental to the Ger
man foreign Office memorandum on
the subject of the new war zone.
At the same time that the German
ambassador conferred with Secretary
bryan and Counsellor Lansing, the
complete text Of the British reply to
the American note of protest on neu-
trail shipping dated December IS was
| received 1t was laid before Presi-
| dent Wilson.
Besides giving statistics on neutral
commerce and entering a general Ge-
| ranted interference with legitimate
1 IAt AS" uOlC SOIlS-&AS g
statement from Great Britain that the
recent government decree taking over
the. -four and grain supply in Ger
many required added precautions on
the part of the Allies that conditional
contraband might not be permitted to
reach the an" ed forces Of the enemy
The documen, constitutes a further
statement Of the British governmeu,
on the legal questions involved. The
full text will not be given out until
| after an agreement for publication is
reached with British foreign Office.
Another development which bears
| directly on the submarine warfare
Threatened by Germany was the dis
/ patching Of telegram by the state
department to Ambassador Page in.
structing him to submit to the British
foreign Office evidence given in Wash
ington by the owners Of the Ameri'
can steamer Wilheimina to prove tina,
her cargo consists Of foodstuhs des
| tined to non-combatants and not sub.
ject to seizure. The suggestion is
made that unless Great Britain has
sufficient grounds not yet advanced
for doing otherwise, the ship be per.
mitted at once to proceed with hel
cargo to her destination.
From the German point OF view
the Wilhelmina constitutes test
case on which revolves the entire
| question Of feeding Germany. The
German ambassador il a recent note
20. the American government pointed
out that Germany had modified is
decree so that imported foodstufs
would not. be taken over by the gov
ernment, and suggests that American
organizations OF consular officers be
appointed to supervise the distribu
ton of the imported foodstutts as g
guarantee that none Of the American
shipments would reach the armed
forces Of Germany.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British
ambassador, went over the situation
with state department officials.
On al! sides it is admitted in Wash.
ington that the developments Of the
last few days present a most serious
situation for American commerce
| Administration officials think tina,
even though assurances are given
eventually by Germany that neutra,
ships will not be attacked, the effect
OF the war zone proclamation will be
70 intimidate American shippers and
reduce American exports.
| That the next step by the United
States may be a pronounced state
nent to Great Britain on the subject
OF conditional contraband was indi.
Gated at the state department Mon.
day. The American government in
its first note argued strongly for IN
restricted shipment OF conditiona,
contraband destined to non-comba-
tants. The British preliminary reply
did not oppose this view, but said al
unconditional acceptance could not be
given on account Of Germany's alleg.
ed inhumane practices.
It was believed in Washington
Monday that the American govern
| ment might seek an understanding on
the question OF foodstuffs with both
Germany and Great Britain with the
hope that it might avert the subnaa-
\ rine dangers tc neutral ships
| BRITISH AIR RAID.
/ TIL, l,;,.<1- So,,~ a;-,,o1 Tol-o Da- u