Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-20
Stands By Great Britain
Mo . All Foodstuffs
W. \Be Contraband
OTHhR REPRISALS
ARE NOW EXPECTED
Germans Disregard Every
Law Of Civilized War
fare, British Say.

r ONDON, Feb. 19.-(S:1O p. mD-
II The British government an
uounced today that 1t had decided
that the cargo of the American
steamer Wilhelmina should be held
for the decision Of the prize court.
This announcement was made by Sir
Edward Grey, the British foreign Sec
retary. It seems to make clear the
purpose Of Great Britain to declare
all foodstuffs for Germany as con-
traband, as well as to foreshadow
other reprsals. In his note Sir Ed
ward, after reviewing the German
methods of warfare and denouncing
them as absolute violations of all in
ternational usages, says:
III, therefore, his majesty's gov
ernmcnt should hereafter feel con-
strained to declare foodstuffs abso-
Lutte contraband, or to take other
measures for interfering with Ger
man trade by way or reprlsals, they
confidently expect that such action
will not be challenged on the part OF
neutral states. by appeals to laws and
usaBes OF war whose validity rests on
their forming an integral part of that
system of international doctrine
which, as a whole, their enemy boasts
the intention to Disregard, 30 long as
such neutral states canot compel the
German government to abandon
methods of warfare which have not
In recent history been regarded az
having the sanction OF either law or
humanity"
Full Text of Reply.
Great Brtain's reply to the Ameri
can note on the Wllhelmina case.
which was handed today to Walter
Hines Page, the American ambassa-
dor, follows
THE communication made by the
United States ambassador in his note
to Sir Edward Grey Of the 10th inst.
has been carefully considered and the
following observations are offered in
reply:
AT the time when mis- matesty's
government gave directions for the
seizure of the cargo OF the steamship
Wilhelmlna as contraband they had
before them the text OF a decree made
by the German federal council on the
10Th OF January, under article 45, OF
which all grain ana uour imported
into Germany after che Jlst of Jau-
uary was declared deliverable only to
certain organizations under direct
government control or TO municipal
authorities
THE vessel was bound for Ham
burg, one OF the free cities of the
German empire, the government OF
which Is vested In the municipality.
This was one Of the reasons actuating
his majesty's government In deciding
to bring the cargo OF the Wilhelmina
before a prize court
Information has only now reached
them that by a subsequent decree
dated the 9Th Of February, the above
provision in article 40 OF the previous
decree was repealed, II would appear
for the express purpose of rendering
difficult the anticipated proceedings
against the Wilhelmina. The repeal
was not known to his majestys gov
ernment at the time OF the detention
Of the cargo or indeed. until now.
Object to German Methods.
How far the ostenslble exception
OF imported supplies from the general
government monopoly of all grain and
flour set up by the German govern
ment may affect the question OF the
contraband nature Of the shipments
seized, Is u matter which will most
suitably be Investigated by the prize
court.
1T is, however, necessary to state
that the German decree is not the only
ground on which the submission OF
the cargo Of the Wilhelmina to the
prize court is justified The German
government have in public announce
ments claimed to treat practically
every town or portion Of the English
east coast as q fortified place and
base Of operations. On the strength
OF this contention they have subjected
TO bOmbardment the open towns of
Yarmouth, Scarborough and Whitby
among others. on the same ground
a number OF neutral vessels sailing
for English ports on the east coast,
with cargoes OF goods on the German
list Of conditional contraband. have
been seized by German cruisers and
brought before a German prize court.
Again. the Dutch vessel Maria,
having sailed from California with
cargo OF grain consigned TO Dublin
and Belfast, was sunk in September
last by the German cruiser Karlsruhe.
This could only have been justified il.
among other things. the cargo could
have been proved TO be destined for
the British government or for armed
forces and u a presumption to this
effect had been established owing To
Dublin or Belfast being considered
fortified places or bases for armed Z
forces"