The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-02-18

leave to state how things stand. Un-
til now, Germany has scrupulously OBJ
served valid international rules re-
garding naval warfare. At the very
beginning Of the war. Germany imme-
diately agreed to the proposal of the
United States government to ratify
the new declaration of London and
took over it's contents unaltered and
without formal obligation, into her
prize law.
"The German government has
obeyed these rules, even when they
wer diametrically opposed to her mill
tary interests. For instance, Germany
allowed the transportation of provis-
ions to England from Denmark until
today, though she was well able by her
sea forces to prevent it. In contradis-
tinction to this attitude, England has
not even hesitated at infringement of
international law If by such means she
could paralyze the peaceful commerce
of Germany with neutrals.
THE German government will be
| the less obliged to enter into details
as these are put down sufficiently,
though not exhaustively, in the United
States note to the British government
VI DoC 20 dS q IcSulL I'll llSc uOuLuS
experience.
Strikes at Neutrais.
"All these encroachments have been
made, as has been admitted, in order
to cut off all supplies from Germany
and thereby starve her peaceful civil
populations procedure contrary to
all humanitarian principles. Neutrals
have been unable to prevent the inter
ruption of their commerce with Ger
many, which is contrary to interna-
| tfOnal laws.
THE United States government, as
Germany readily acknowledges, has
protested against the British proceed
ure. In spite of these protests and
protests from othe" neutrals, Great
Britain could not be induced to de-
part from the course of action she had
decided upon.
Thus, for instance, the United
States ship Wilhelmina recently was
stopped by the British, although her
cargo was destined solely for the Ger
man civil population, and according to
the express declaration of the German
government, was to be employed only
for this purpose
Help Great Britain.
Great Britain. on the other hand. is
with the federation of neutral govern
ments, not only supplied with such
goods as are not contraband or only
conditional contraband, but with goods
which are regarded by Great Britain,
II sent to Germany, as absolutely con-
traband-namely, provisions, indus
trlal materials. etc-and even with
goods which have always indubitably
been regarded as absolute contraband
The German government feels itself
Obliged to point out with the greatest
emphasis that a traffic in arms. esti-
mated at many hundreds Of millions,
| is being carried on between United
States firms and Germany's enemies.
Germany fully comprehends that
the right and the liberation of wrong
on the part of neutrals are matters
absolutely at the discretion of neutrals
and involve no formal violation of neu-
trality.
Changes Attitude.
| Germany heretofore did not COM
plain of any formal violation Of neu-
trality, but the German government, in
view of complete evidence before it,
cannot help pointing out that it, to-
gether with the entire public opinion
of Germany, feels itself to be severed
of prejudices by the the fact that neu-,
trails in safe-guardingatheir rtxhts, in
legitimate commerce with Germany
according to International law, have up
to the present achieved no, or only
insignificant results, while they are
making unlimited use of their right bv
carrying on contraband traffic with
Great Britain and our other enemies
IF it is a formal right of neutrals to
take no steps to protect their legiti.
mate trade with Germany, and even
to allow themselves to be influenced
in the direction of the conscious and
wjlful destruction of their trade, on the
other hand they have the perfect right
which they unfortunately do not exer-
else, to cease contraband trade, especi-
ally in arms, with Germany's enemies
I'm view of this situation Germany,
after six months of patient waiting,
sees herself obliged to answer Great
Britain's murderous method of naval
warfare with sharp counter measures
If Great Britain in her fight against
Germany summons hunger as an ally,
! for the purpose of imposing upon a
civilized people Of seventy millions the
choice between destitution and starva-
tion or submission to Great Britain's S
commercial will, then Germany today
I is determined to take up the gauntlet
and appeal to similar allies.
Germany trusts that the neutrals