The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-17
WILL REJECT NOTE.
WILSON'S Plan APPEARS MADE.
QDilE TO The BllTISH
Asks FOR GUARANTEES
Allied Power Says it Provides for the
Foregoing of Distinct Belngerent
Advantage While Barring Germany
From Only Two OF Her Long List
Of Crimes-Reply Coming Soon.

The British reply to the American
note suggesting that Great Britain
allow foodstuffs to enter Germany,
in return for Germany's abandon
ment Of her submarine warfare en-
merchant vessels and her policy of
mining the high seas, is expected to,
! be. forthcoming soon.
While the contents OF the reply are
not known in London or Washington.
it is possible to indicate some points
likely to carry weight with the Brit
ish government.
There is strong feeling in Down
ing street that the 'tquid pro quo
put forward in the American note
does not go far enough Foreign off
fee officials point out Great Britain
has interfered only once with food
destined for Germany, and then only
after the German government, by as
suming control Of all foodstuffs, had
abolished the old distinction between
the civil and the military population.
High German authorities have de-
MED repeatedly the British claim that
to cut of supplies Of food from civil
ians is a legitimate act of war. Great
Britain, it is insisted. never adopted
this view until the Germans made st
impossible any longer to draw the
line between non-combatants and
armed forces. Furthermore, it is add
ed, Great Britain now IS invited by
the United States to forego clear
belligerent right, on the understand
Ing that Germany will refrain from
committing two-but only two-of
many crimes against both law and
humanity.
Authoritative British spokesmen
lay stress on the "inadequacy Of
this proposal from two standpoints.
They ask, first, what guarantee is
forthcoming that Germany will keep
to her agreement. Supposing, they
urge, that an understanding were
reached on the lines suggested by the
United States, would the United
States secure its strict observance?
They assert that Germany has yio-
lated so many compocast and conven-
tions in this war that British states
men are disinclined to trust her un-
supported word. :4.
Second, they urge that the two of
fenses specified in the American note
submarine warfare on merchant
vessels and the mining of the high
seas-are far from being the only or
even the worst offenses- of which Ger
many has been guilty. The claim is
set up that she has bombarded un-
fortified towns, dropped bombs on
places inhabited solely by civilians
and sank both British and neutral
ships
Great Britain. it is pointed out, has
INDUCED in none Of these practices
and such mines as she has been con-
PEELED in self-defense to lay have been
laid in strict accordance with The
Hague conventions.
The German policy which arouses
the most indignation is the alleged
continuance Of the prosecution Of the
Belgians. many Of whom. 1t IS declar.
ed. "wfo would be at this moment
in a state of semi-starvation but for
American generosity and assistance"
The view therefore held in the
most arthoritiye quarter Of Great
DTltd III lS tH@I II lHSiS 10 W NC: any
question Of Germany's conforming to
the rules Of civilized warfare with
respect to All points. it must come rp
for discussion and that Great Britain
could enter into no agreement on a
subject which did not include radi-
cal change in Gernany's proceedings
in Pe7eium.
Finally. It is declared bv the same
anthoritv these being the factors
that mainly Influence British Official
oninion. it NAV he inferred that the
natural syrnrathv- Of the Britisf, gcv-
ernment with the American snegea.
tion. both on IFS merits and from ITS
source Of origin. must to some ex-
tent he mitieated by other and wider
considerations.