The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

der to cut off all supplies from Ger nany and thereby starve her peaceful civil population-a procedure contrary % all humanitarian principles. Neutrais have been unable to prevent the inter- ruption of their commerce with Germany, which is contrary to international laws. 'fhe American government, as Germany readily acknowledges. has protested against the British procedure. In spite Of these protests and protests from oth- CT neutral states, Great Britain could not be induced to depart from the course of action she had decided upon. Thus, for instance, the American ship Will helmina recently was stopped by the British although her cargo was destined solely for the German civil population, and according to the express declaration of the German government was to be employed only for this purpose
 Supplies Cut Off
 Germany is as good as cut off from her overseas supplies by the silent or protesting federation of neutrals, not only
 in regard to such goods as are absolute contraband, but also in regard to such as. according to acknowledged law be- fore the war, are only conditional con- traband, or not contraband at all. Great Britain, on the other hand, is with the tolert.tion of neutral governments not
 
 not contraband are only conditional con- traband but with goods which are re- 2arded by Great Britain if sent to uer- many as absolute contrab6nd; namely, provisions industrial raw materials, etc, end 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 be- ing carried on between American firms and Germany's enemies. Germany fully comprehends that the practice of right and the toleration of wrong on the part of neutrals are matters absolutely at the discretions of neutrals, and involve no formal violation of neutrality. Germany therefore did not complain of any formal violation of neutrality but the German government, in view of complete evidence before it. cannot help pointing out that it. together with the entire public opin- ion of Germany, feels itself to be se- verey prejudiced by the fact that neu- trals in safeguarding their rights in legit- innate commerce with Germany, according to International law, have up to the pres ent achieved only insignificant results while they are making unlimited use of their right by carrying on contraband l traffic with Great Britain and our other enemies.
 | If 1t is a formal right of neutrals to 1 take no steps to protect their legitimate l trade with Germany and even to allow themselves to be influenced in the direc- ton of the conscious and wilful restric- ton of their trade, on the other hand they have the perfect right which they unfortunately do not exercise to cease contraband trade. especially in firearms, i with Germanys enemies.
 Adopts MurderOus Method 1 In view of this situation Germany after | six months of patient waiting sees her self obliged to answer by adopting the | murderous method of naval warfare with sharp counter measures If Great Brit ain in her fight against Germany sum- mons hunger as ap ally for the purpose of imposing upon civilized people of 1 70 O00,o00 the choice between Restitution l and starvation, or submission to Great Brltain's commercial will, then Germany 1 Is determined to take up the gauntlet ! and appeal to similar allies.
 ! "Germany trusts that the neutrals who so far have submitted to the dsadyan- tageous consequences of Great Britain's i hunger war In silence, or merely in regis tering a protest will display toward Ger many no smaller measure of toleration, | even if German measures, like those Of Great Britain, present new terrors of | naval warfare.
 Moreover, the German government is | resolved to suppress with all the means at it's disposal the Importation of war ma
 terial to Great Britain and her allies, and she takes it for granted that neutral governments which far have taken no steps against the traffic in arms with l Germany's enemies, will not oppose forcible suppression by Germany of this trade.
 Acting from this point of view, the
 German admiralty proclaimed naval
 war zone whose limits it exactly defined. Germany so far as possible will seek
 to close this war zone with mines, and
 will also endeavor to destroy hostile mer-
 chant vessels in every other way. While the German government in taking &C.,
 ton based upon this overpowering point
 of view keeps itself far removed from
 all intentional destruction of neutral lives
 and property; on the other hand' It does not fail to recognize that from the ac- ton to be taken against Great Britain
 dangers arise which threaten all trad' within the war zone without distinction } This is a natural result of mine warfare } which even under the strictest observance
 of the limits of international law endan gers every ship approaching the min' area The German government considers itself entitled to hope that all neutral' will acauiesce in these measures as the, have done in the case of the grfeviou
 damages inflicted upon them by British } measures. all the more so as German. is resolved for the protection of neutra 3 shipping even in the naval war zone l to do everything which is at all compat ible with the attainment of this object "In view of the fact that Germany gav' |, the first proof of her good will in fixinl @ time limit of not less than 14 days be fore the execution of said measures, s that neutral shipping might have an op portunity of making arrangements t avoid threatening danger, this can mos = surely be achieved by remaining ava! $ from the naval war zone. Neutral yes e sels which, despite this ample notice which greatly affects the achievement O our aims in our war against Great Brit