New Britain herald., 1915-03-05

tion of the questions which have arisen. With regard to the various points of the American note they beg to make the following remarks:
 First: With regard to the sowing of mines the German government would be willing to agree, as sug- gested not to use floating mines and to have anchored mines constructed as indicated. Moreover, they agree to put the stamp of the government on all mines to be planted. On the other hand, it does not appear to them to be feasible for the belHger- 1 ents wholly to forego the use of an i chored mines for offensive purposes.
 Second; The German government would undertake not to use their sub marines to attack mercantile or any 1 flag except when necessary to enforce the right of visit and search. Should l the enemy nationality of the vessel ] or the presence of contraband be as- certained submarine would proceed in accordance with the general rules of 1 international low.
 Contingent Cnon Fact.
 Third: As provided ia the Amer 1 jean note, this restriction of the use | of the submarines is contingent upon the fact that enemy mercantile ab- | stain from the use of the neutral flag ! and other neutral distinctive marks 1 It would appear to be a matter of ! course that such mercantile vessels | also abstain from arming themselves and from all resistance by force since Such procedure contrary to interna- honal law would repder impossible any action of the submarines in ac- ] cordance with international law. Fourth: The regulation of Iegiti- mate importation of food into Ger many suggested by the American government appears to be in general acceptable. Such regulation would, of course, be confined to importations by sea, but that would, on the other hand, include indirect importations by way of neutral ports. The Ger man government would, therefore be willing to make the declarations of the nature provided in the American note so that the use of the imported food and food stuffs solely by the non combatant population would be guar anteed. The imperial government must, however, in addition, emphasize having the importation of other raw material used by the economic sys-
  age, permitted. To that end the enemy governments would have to permit the free entry into Germany of the raw material mentioned in the free list of the declaration of London, and to treat materials included in the list of conditional contraband accord | ing to the same principles as food and foodstuffS.
 The German government continues | the American government have paved | the way may be reached after due ! consideration of the remarks made ! above and that in this. way peaceable | neutral shipping and trade will not | have to suffer any more than is abso- lutely necessary from the unavoidable effects of maritime war. These effects could be still further reduced if as I, was pointed out in the German notesl of the sixth instant, some'way could | be found to exclude the shipping of munitions Of war from neutral coun~ tries to belligerents on ships of any nationality.
 The German government must. of course reserve a definite statement of their position until such time as they may receive further information from the American government enabling them to see what obligations the Brit ish government are on their part will ing to assume"