New-York tribune., 1915-03-18

the cruisers patrolllng European wa
t6rs. r. your
excellcncy's communication ] nave thc
honor to inform you that the govern
ment of the republic has not faiIed 10
consider this point as presented ny the
Government of the United States, ana
I beg TO specify clearly the conditions
of application, ~ far as my govern
mont ia concerned. of the declaration
OF the allied governments. As wen
60, forth by the federal government
tho lid methods of blockade cannot DC
entirely adhered TO in view OF the use
Germany has made of her submarines,
and also by reason of the geograph'cai
situation of that country: A..
In answer to the challenge 10 tne
neutrals as well as to its adVersaiitS
contained in the declaration Dy "plen
the German imperial goVern"en'
stated that 1t considered the seas sur
rounding Great Britain and the frehcn
coast on the Channel as military
zone. and warned neutral VesselS noe
TO enter the same on account OIL wy
danger they would run, the aiiI.u
governments have been Obliged 10 eA
anime what measures they couiu auop'
to interrupt all maritime c"hlhu1tIV" .I''.
tion with the German Emplr' anu tnus
keep il blockaded by the naVal Po"ei
of the two Allies, at the same tlhe'
bowever. safeguarding as much as pos,
sibIe the legitimate interests OF neutral
nowers. and respecting the laws OF
humanity, which no crime OF thelr
onemv will induce them to violate.
Tho government of the Republic
tbercfore. reserves to itself the rlght
of brin-ing into French or allled
mort any ship carrying a cargo pre-
ahmed TO be Of German origin, destlna-
tion or ownership, but it will not go 10
the length of seizing any neutral snip
cvcont in case Of contraband. Inc
discharged cargo shall not be con,
Gecated In the event of neutral
nrovinp his lawful ownership OF mer,
chandise destined TO Germany, he shali
be entirely free to dispose OF same,
subiect TO certain conditions. In case
the owner of the goods is German
thew shall simply be sequestrated DIR
ing the war. III,
Merchandise Of enemy origin shall
only be sequestrated when it is al
the same time the property OF an
enemy. Merchandise belonging 10
neutrals shall be held at the disposal
of It's owner to be returned to the por'
of departure.
Neutral Rights Safe.
"As your excellency will observe
these measures, while depriv:ng the
enemy of important resources, respect
the rights of neutrals and wi not III
anv way ieopardize private property
a. even the enemy owner Will only
suffer from the suspension OF the en-
iovment of his rights during the term
Of hostilities. 1,;o
"The government of the republic
beinp desirous of allowing neutrals
every facility to enforce their claims
here occurred an ndeclpherable
group of words give the prize court
land independent tribunaD cognlzance
of these questions, and in order TO give
the neutrals as little trouble as pos
sible it has specified that the prize
court shall give sentence within elgh'
davs, counting from the date on when
the case shall have been brought De-
fore il.
that the federal government, compar
ing on the one hand the unspeakaolf
violence with which the German mil
tarv government threatens neutr.ls
the criminal actions, unknown IN mari
time annals, already perpetrateC
against neutral property and ships ant
even against the lives OF neutral SUP
iects or citizens, and, on the. othei
hand. the measures adopted by th'
| allied Governments of France and Grea'
! Britain respecting the laws Of hui
manity and the rights of individuals
will readily perceive that the latter
have rot overstepped their strict rights
J as belligerents.
! Finally, | am anxious to assure yo'
/ that il is not and it has never been thu
| iitention of the government of the re
public to extend the action of its
cruisers against enemy merchandise be
| ;rciudod SHARP"