New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-16
BERLIN MESSAGE
SENT TOLONDON
War Zone To Be Made
Death Trap for All
NeutralS.
RETTERATES REASONS
State Department Also Receives
Long Statement from Britain
on Conditional Contraband.

Long Statement from Britain
on Conditional Contraband.
Washington, Feb. 15.-With only
three days remaining before the Ger.
man Admiralty proposes to carry into
effect its proclamation ordering a sub
marine campaign on enemy merchant
ships. Developments in the diplomatic
situation moved rapidly to-day through
the medium OF the United States gov
ernment, custodian of the diplomatic
interests Of the various belligerents.
Count Won Bernstorf, the German
Ambassador, delivered a 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 IL restrictions placed by the Al
lies on shipments of conditional con-
trsband and foodstuffs destined 10 the
civilian population Of Germany we're
removed.
Otherwise, the note announced, Ger.
many proposes to put into effect the or.
iginal war zone proclamation, adding
also that the measures 10 be taken will
include the strewing Of mines in waters
surrounding Great Britain and ireland.
Alleged arming OF British merchant
vessels is given BY the German govern.
mcnt as ground for attacking enemy
merchant ships without search or pre-.
vious visit, that is 10 say, for regard.
ing merchant craft hereafter as in the
category Of warships. The ambassa.
doris communication was sent from
Berlin before the recent American note
was delivered By Ambassador Gerard,
and is supplementary to the German
Foreign Office memorandum on the sub.
ject Of the new war zcnes.
British Reply Received.
While the German Ambassador wa,
comforting with Secretary Bryan and
Counsellor Lansing the complete text
Of the British reply to the American
note OF protest on neutral shipping,
dated December 26, was received. Il
was laid before President Wilson. Be-
sides giving statistics on neutral COM
nerce and entering a general derial
that there had been any unwarranted
interference with legitimate shipments
the new note contains a statement.
from Great Britain that the recent gov.
ernment decree taking over the -four
and grain supply in Germany required
added precautions on the part Of tho
Allies that conditional contraband
might not be permitted 20 reach thu
armed forces Of the enemy.
The document constitutes a further
statement Of the British governments
on the legal questions involved. The
full text will not be given out until
after an agreement for publication is
reached with the British Foreign Office.
Another development which bears di.
rectly on the submarine warfare
threatened by Germany was the dis.
patching Of telegram by the State
Department to-day to Ambassador Page
instructing him to submit to the Brit.
ish Foreign Office evidence given here
by the owners Of the American steamer
Wilhelmina to prove that her cargo
consists Of foodstuffs destined for non
combatants, and not subject TO seizure.
To Liberate Wilhelmina.
The suggestion is made that unless
Great Britain has sufficient grounds,
not vet advanced, for doing otherwise,
the ship be permitted at once 10 pro-
ceed with her cargo TO her destination.
From the German point OF view the
Nilhelmina constitutes test case on
which revolves the entire question OF
feeding Germany. The German AM
bassador here in a recent note TO the
American government pointed out
that Germany had modified her decree
so that imported foodstuffs could not
be taken over by the government, and
suggested that American organiza-
tions, or consular officers, be appointed
to supervise the distribution of the
imported foodstufs, as guarantee
that none of the American shipments
would reach the armed forces Of Ger
many.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the British
Ambassador, discussed the situation
with the State Department officials.
On all sides. it is admitted here, the
Developments Of the last few days pre-
sent q most serious situation for Amer.
lean commerce. Administration officials
think that even though assurances arc
given eventually by Germany that neu.
trail ships will not be attacked, the
effect Of the war zone proclamation
will be 10 intimidate American ship.
pers and reduce American exports.
u. s. May Take Strong Line.
That the neat step by the United
States may be a pronounced statement
to Great Britain on the subject Of con.
ditional contrsbsnd was indicated at
the State Department to-day. The
American government in its first note
argued strongly for unrestricted ship.
ment OF conditional contrabsnd when
destined to on-combstants. The
British preliminary reply did not