Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-02-18

4 ny BHe AHs9El8tru Ef1SSss
BERLIN, via London, Feb. 1s-~
The reply Of Germany to the protests
OF the United States against = block.
ads Of British waters il couched IN
the most friendly terms. but firmly
maintains the position. Of Germany az
already announced. The answer.
which is a lengthy document. was
converted into cpde at the United
States embassy under the direction
OF Ambassador Gerard and has been
Transmitted in full 70 Washington
The note explains that Germany,s
proposed action Is rendered neces-
sary by Great Britain's policy Of al
tempting to cut of the food supply
for the German civil population by
a method never recognized in inter-
national law. England's course il
ordering merchantmen to ny neutral
flags, equipping them with artillery
with orders to destroy submarines.
the German reply contends. renders
nugatory ths right TO search, thus
giving Germany the right to attack
English shipping. Germany holds
that she cannot abandon that righ.
under the stress which England mas
forced upon her.
Since Germany must compel the
nations with which she is at war Il
return to the recognized principles OF
international law and restore the
freedom OF the seas she argues that
the stand she has taken is necessary.
Suggest Convoy Of wsrships.
The note recommends that tia
United States government send war
ships to England 20 convoy merchant
vessels through the danger zone as
security against attack, with the ur
derstanding that vessels thue guarded
shall carry no war supplies. Hope ie
expressed that sSe American govern
ment will understand the position IN
which Germany has been placed and
appreciates the reasons for IT'S course.
The reply closes with an expression
of ths hope that the United States
may prevail upon Great Britain ito
return to the principles Of iuternav
tional law recognized prior TO the ont
break OF the war" and in particular
obtain the observance OF the Londcr
declaration of belhgerents opposed to
Germany. II this were done, the nots
explains, Germany would be enabled
to import food supplies and raw ms
terials. Germany would recognizes II
this, says the reply, an invaluable
service toward a more humane con-
duct of the war and would act IN
accordance with the new situation
thus created.
The text OF the German govern
ment's reply to the American note
follows:
The imperial government has ex-
amined the communication from the
United States government In the
same spirit Of good will and friend
ship by which the communication ap-
pears to have been dictated. The
imperial government is In accord
with the United States government
that for both parties 1t is in q high
degree desirable to avoid miEunder-
standings which might arise from
measures announced by the German
admiralty and 10 provide against the
occurrence OF incidents which might
trouble the friendly relations which
SO far happily exist between ths two
governments.
with regard to the assuring OF
these friendly relations the German
government believes that 1t may all
the more reckon on a full under
standing with the United States an
the procedure announced by the Ger
man admiralty, which was fully ex-
planned in the note OF the 9Th instant
is In no way directed against legiti-
mate commerce and legitimate ship
ping of neutrals, but represents sole
" a measure of self defense. Imposed
on Germany by her vital interests.
against England's method Of warfare.
which is contrary to international
law and which so far no protest by
neutrals has succeeded In bringing
back to the generally recognized
principles Of law as existing before
the outbreak OF war.
"In order to exclude all doubt re-
garding these cardinal points, the
sCsnsinusd On Rsrs Z cslsna ~ !