New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-27
GERMAN REPLY
TO U. S. NOTE
In PREPARATION
Imperial Authorities ana
Ambassador Gerard En-
gagged in Discussion.
MINISTER'S PLEASED
BY FRIENDLY SPIRIT
Would Abandon Floating Mines
Allies Said to Have Agreed
on ReprisalS.

Berlin via London, FEB. 20 nc
American note TO Germany and HreH'
Britain on the subject Of foodstuhs TO
civilian populations of belligerents ana
submarine activities at sea, copy %
which was handed 20 the herman
con OAice by Ambassador Gerard, inc
-. ~ February p. has been SUP
iect of exhaustive discussion ior tne
isst two DAVIS between the German I'M
roriaI authorities concerned ana lhe
American Ambassador, .a
Government circles have eXpresseu
themselves impressed by the trlehuIy
sn;rjt in which these proposals nave
heer advanced. and by the evident de-
Sire ON the part of the American az
,,;1is+ra-ion to reach a solution OF the
dificulties involved in the present
roetbods Of maritime warfare, poth 10
bclliVerents and neutrals anke'
The American note probably VIII not
bo nnbjisbed here until the German re-
sponse has been sent forward, but
,bero is GOOD reason TO believe that II
Soais vitb three principal subjects -
rn;no and submarine blockade OF coasts
The use of floating mines and the entry
of foodstufTs for civilian populatiohs'
Il Is difficult TO secure any authorlta'
.;,,o evnression of opinion concerning
H. German point of view on THESE
roints from any of the Imperial gov
eminent departments interested IN lhe
S,o,o,iotions. or to overcome the cen
sorsbin restrictions in treating OF this
Meter in news dispatches sent out from
berlin by telegraph Judgl"S' however
from a general knowledge OF herman
nolicy and intentions, II may De ealI
with confidence that little dithculty wiz
he experienced, so far as GERMANY ~
concerned. in reaching mutual agree
ment for the discontinuance OF HOat-
mo mines. The attitude OF the ger
man Admiralty on mine planting alons
hostile coasts, hover, Is a; the pres
ent time unknown.
London. Feb 26.-France; Kussia,
Great Britain, Servla ana beIgluI arc
said by English officials to be IN aosG-
Lutte accord as 10 reprlsals 10 DC i To-
on Germany. Austria-Hungary ana lur-
Lo,. IN retaliation for the German SUD-
marine campaign. Great Britain was
in conference with her allies concern
mo reprisals before the receipt OF lhe
las. American note, making informal
concentrations looking to the dlscoh-
ti6nance of submarine activities ana 10
tbe admission OF food TO Germany LOT
her civil population. ,,-..l
While il can be authorltatvely slaIeu
that the nature of the reprlsaIS mas
not been agreed on absolutely as !e|
I Crest Rritain and her allies have de-
cided on the main points, whlch prop
ably will be announced on Moheay ny
Premier Asquith in q statement lot inc
prcss simultaneously with the suDflIS-
Sion Of the position of all the oppo-
,onts Of Germany to neutral countries
whose trade is so vitality affected Dy
the present naval methods.
Walter Hines Page, American Amoas-
sador TO Great Britain, and the BRUSH
Foreign Office have refralned from as
cnssing the terms of the American note,
but the Foreign Office has lntimated
that the probable statement OF fre-
mier Asquith on Monday vii! not be a
direct answer to the American note'
but a long promised elucldatlon OF the
intimation made by Sir Edward Grey'
Secretary of State for Foreign AHalrS'
and other Cabinet members that re-
nrisaIs against Germany would doubt
less be necessary.
There is everv reason TO believe that
I England fully intends to make all food
stufTs for Germany absolute contra
hand. thus cutting of the movement of
sbips to German ports and making
ex5ort trade by sea impossible. Great
interest is being shown by the British
nress and the public in the probable
treatment Of cotton under the new
system Of reprisals. The belief seems
20 be general that cotton and food will
become absolute contraband.
British officials are now persuaded
they state, that several ships which al
first were reported as having been de,
stroyed by mines were the victims OF
submarines.