The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-18
TEXT Of GERMAN
NOTE GIVEN OUT
REPEATS ASSURANCES As TO
ToODSTt AND ASKS L. =.
TO STAND ON RIGHTS.

Washington. Feb f7-The State
Department made public the rest OF
another note from the German am
ba ssador. This one was delivered to
the State Department last Saturday
and deals with the reasons for Ger
many's claim that its decree expro-
priatng fopdstuffs does not warrant
Great Britain in regarding all cargoes
of food consigned TO Germany as des-
tined to the German government
The note points out that the Ger
man decree specifically exempts i'm
portations of food from its applica-
ton. As further guarantee, the
German government offers to permit
an American commission, under di-
rection Of United States consular Of
ficers, to supervise the distributions
of importations Of foodstuffs in order
to insure that no part of them VIII
reach the armed forces of Germany.
The note concludes with the rather
unusual statement that the German
government Expresses the firm hope
that the American government will
stand on it's right in this matter.
This Is GernanyS plea TO the United
States to convince the British govern
men, of the business of the German
, position.
The self-interest of the United
this government to try to get Great
Britain TO desist from what seems at
present to be her intentions. The
text of the note Is as follows:
Text of Note.
The Federal Councils decision
concerning the seizure of food prod
I ucts, which England alleges 10 be the
! cause of food products shipped to
! Germany, being treated as contrahand
/ Of war, bear exclusively ON wheat
rye. beth nnmiNed and mixed with
J other products and also wheat, rye,
oat, and barley -four
The Federal Council makes an eN-
! press exception in section As OF this
order. Section ~ provides:
! The stipulations do not apply to
( grain or fioar imported from abroad
after January 81
Complimentary with that saving
clause the Federal Council order con
! tains Il provision under which the i'm
ported cereals and hours would be
sold exclusively to the municipalities
or certain specially designated or
CARNATIONS by the importers, Al
though that have not for it's object
simply to throw imported grain and
-four into such channels as supply the
! private consumption of civilians. and
in consequence of that provision the
intent and purpose Of the Federal
/ Councils order, which WAS to protect
the civilian population from specu-
lators and engrossers were fully met,
| 1t Was nevertheless rescinded so as TO
leave no room for doubt.
Americans May Control
| My government liz amenabie to
any proposition looking to control by
| a special American organization un-
4 der the supervision of the American
consular agents, and If necessary will
itself make proposition in that dt-
rection.
The German government further
calls attention TO the fact that munici-
4 paitties do act form part of or belong
/ TO the government bat are self-ad-
ministrative bodies. which are eieced
by the inhabitants OF the community,
/ which fixes rules and exclusively rep
! resent the private part of the popu-
lation and acts as its agents. AL
/ though the principles are generally
known and obtain in the United States
| As well as IL England itself, The Ger
man government desires TO point out
the fact SO as to avoid any unneces-
sary delay,
Hence il is absolutely assured that
/ imported food products Will be con-
sumed by the civilian population in
Germany exclusively, and there Is no
vent tho expectation of food products
from America To Germany for the
use OF civilians.
The imperial government eX-
presses the firm hope that the Ameri-
can government viii stand on its
ehtT in this matter
Won. Assume Responsibility.
Cnitea States officials already have
indicated that they would not con-
slider supervising food distribution in
/ Germany unless all the allies con-
/ scented. This suggestion has not been
taken up With England, although the
/ above note. as well as other German
: communication on this subject have
heen forwarded to the British foreign
office