Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
NOTE TO GERMANY
ACT OF PRECAUT|ON
Strong Warning Tone of Com
munication Is Not Intended
as Threat.
AMBASSADOR EXPLAINS VIEW
Discusses Importance Which His
Government Attaches to Ship
ment of Foodstuffs.

WASHINGTON. February l3--The
ment attaches to the Unrestricted ship
ment Of foods,uns for it's civilian pop
ulation was emphasized at the State
Department to-day by Count Won Bern
storf, the German ambassador. who
conferred with both Secretary Bryan
and Counselor Lansing. While no
formal statement regarding the am
bassador's call was issued by the de-
partment, II was said afterward that
lie had hinted that warfare on mer-
chant shipping might be relaxed If
Germany could be assured of con-
tinuous food supply for her noncom-
batant population.
The position OF the German govern
rnent. It was explained. was that O
campaign against merchant ships was
merely retaliation against England's
Declaration Of London in hindering
conditional contrabnnd destined for
civilians from reaching Germany
This. according to the German ambas-
sador. Is no less inhumane than the
campaign on merchant vessels.
While declining to authorize any
statement, officials admitted that the
American note to Germany was open
to the construction that no vessels,
either belligerent or neutral, should be
sunk unless previously visited and an
opportunity given for the taking or Of
passengers. 1t was reiterated that,
while the rules Of international law
clearly compelled such steps the POSI-
ton taken was based largely on
humanitarian grounds
STRONG WARNING TONE
IS FRIENDLY ACT
An official. who helped prepare the
American note to Germany, pointed out
that the strong warning tone Of the
communication was not intended as a
threat. but was friendly act In n spirit
or precaution. lest the sinking OF an
American vessel with Americans aboard
might infame public opinion in Amer
lea to degree which could not be
estimated In advance
The German ambassador. 1t Is under
stood, did not discuss his govern
ments intentions In connection with
the announced campaign on merchant
ships. but confined himself to explain
ing the German point of view on condi-
tional contraband. He holds that the
United States. in cortending for n
strict observance OF the rights of neu-
trails. should interest itself in seeing
that conditional contraband is not held
up on the high seas. The rules Of in
ternational law. even previous to the
Declaration OF London the German am
bassador was understood to have
pointed out, require proof that the mr.
ticles are destined to belligerent forces
He said the German government had
given assurances and also had modified
It's DEGREES. so that imported foodstuffs
would not be appropriated by the army.
Inc German army also is willing to
permit american consular officers to
witness the sale and distribution of
such foodstuffs to determine whether
or not they actually are reaching the
civil population OF Germany.
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES
CASE OF WILHELMINA
The ambassador discussed the case
OF the Willie elmina, an American
steamer. seized by Great Britain on It's
journey to Germany with foodstuffs.
He believes the American government
should take an interest In the safe de-
livery Of the cargo TO Germany. The
State Department has taken no formal
action beyond requesting Great Britain
to postpone prize court proceedings
until the owners OF the vessel, who
have submitted n brief to the depart
ment. are enabled to discuss the case
further here.
The question OF cargoes. such as that
or the Wtlhelmina. which were
shipped before the German decree TAX
ing over the national food supply be-
came effective. probably Will be COW
cred fully in the American reply to the
Ich
from London. and dealing with the
general subject OF neutral commerce.
Most Of tho communication has been
deciphered, and 1t is understood to be
full OF statistics
AS for conditional contraband, the
fact that the German government had
taken over the supply OF grain and
flour Is cited by the British govern
ment as proof that foodstuffs consigned
TO civilians really would be used by
the army. This point also probably
VIII be discussed at length In the
American reply. for I'm the first note II
was stated that mere presumption
as to the destination of conditional
contraband, even though shipped to n
port held by belligerent forces, was not
sufficient reason for preventing the de-
livery of the shipment. and that in
each case proof OF the destination
must be shown.
Both Ambassadors Page and Gerard
sent brief messages to tho State De-
partment to-day. declaring they had
presented the respective communica-
tions to the British and German For
eign Offices.
MORE DETAILED WARNING
TO NEUTRAL. SHIPS
Especial to The Times -DIspatch.J
THE HAGUE, February 13.-A second
and more detailed warning to neutral
ships against entering the war area
around the British Isles Is sounded to.
day In an announcement by the Ger
man legation. The new warning re-
peats the original statement OF the
German admiralty on the question, and
adds the following. .!