Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-13

WAR RIGHT INVOLVED


LONDON. March 11.-.6.2b p. m.)
The British reply to the American
note suggests that Great Britain al
low all foodstuffs to enter Germany
I'm return for Germany's abandonment
Of her submarine warfare on mer-
chant vessels and her policy Of min
ing the high seas IS expected to be
forthcoming at an early date
While the contents OF the reply
naturally are not known, 1t is possible
AS the result of inquiries in authorlta-
tive quarters to indicate some points
likely to carry weight with the British
government and to emphasize Sir Ed
ward Grey's reply.
There is a strong feeling in Down
ing street that the 'quld pro quo put
forward In the American note does not
20 far enough. Officials Of the for
cign office point out that since the
opening Of the war Great Britain has
iuterfered only once with the supply
OF food destined for Germany ana
then only after the German govern.
meut 10y assuming control OF all
fOodstuffs, had abolished the old dis
tlnctlon between the Clyll and the
military population.
High German authorities repeatedly
have denied the British claim to cut
off supplies OF food from civilians Is
a legitimate act OF war Great Brit
ain. II is insisted never adopted this
view until the Germans, 10y their own
act, made it impossible any longer TO
draw the line between nunCOmbatants
and armed forces.
What the United states Asks.
Furthermore it is added Great Brit
ain Is now invited 10y the United
States to forcgo clear belllgerent
right on the understanding that Ger
many will abstain from committing
two-but only two-oc many crimes
against both law and humanity, Au-
thoritatiye spokesmen OF the British
view lay stress on the 'inadequacy"
of this proposal from two standpolnts.
They ask first what guarantee is
forthcoming that Germany will keep
TO her agreement
Supposing they urge, that an un-
dcrstaudiug were reached on the
lines suggested 10y the United States,
would the United States secure It's
strict observance
II Is asserted by them that Ger
many has violated so many com
pacts and conventions iu this war
that British statesmen are disin-
Clined TO trust her unsupported word.
Secondly they urge that the two of
fences specified in the American
uotc-submarine warfare on merch-
ant vessels and the mining OF the
hlgh seas-are far from being tho
only or even the worst offenses OF
which Germany has been guilty. The
claim Is set up that she has bonn
harded uufortificd towns dropped
H4. "a. I.tf fHtN 1p1N ItF
civilians and sunk both British and
neutral ships as it they were the
ordinary legal way Of disposlng OF
them.
Great Britain. It is pointed out, has
INDUCED in none of these practices
and such mines as She has been com
PEELED In self-detenSe to lay. have
been in strict accordance with The
Hague conventions
pcrsecutc Bclgians'
The policy of the Germans which
arouses the most Indignation among
the directors OF the British govern
ment is her continued alleged per-
secution OF the Belgians millions Of
whom il Is declared would he at this
moment I'm "a state OF semi-starva-
ton. but for American generosity
and assistance.
The view. therefore. held in the
most authoritative quarter Of Great
Britain. Is that IL there is to he any
question Of Germanys conforming to
the rules OF civilized warfare, with
respect to all points. and not merely
with respect to two OF them, which
she has been accused OF departing
from II must come up for discussion
and that Great Britain could enter
into no agreement on 0 subject which
did not include "a radical change In
Germany's present proceedings In
Belgium.
Finally. lt is declared by the same
authority that these being the fac
tors that mainly influence British Of
fcial opinion. IL may be inferred that
the natural sympathy OF the British
government with the American sug-
ccstion. both on it, merits and from
its source of origin. must to some
extent he mitigatcd hy other and
wider Considerati